Театр

           YouknowwhattheseSundaynightplaysare;scratchrehearsalsandallthat;Isaidyou’dquiteunderstandandyou’dmakeallowances."

           Allthroughdinnerhekeptlookingathiswatch.Juliaactedthewomanoftheworld.Shetalkedofonethingandanotherandnoticedthathelistenedwithdistraction.AssoonashecouldhebroughttheconversationbacktoAviceCrichton.

           "OfcourseIhaven’tsaidanythingtoheraboutit,butIbelieveshe’dbeallrightforHonor."HehadreadNowadays,asheread,beforetheywereproduced,allJulia’splays."Shelooksthepartallright,I’msureofthat.She’shadastruggleandofcourseitwouldbeawonderfulchanceforher.Sheadmiresyoutremendouslyandshe’sterriblyanxioustogetintoaplaywithyou."

           "That’sunderstandable.Itmeansthechanceofayear’srunandalotofmanagersseeingher."

           "She’stherightcolour,she’sveryfair;she’dbeagoodcontrasttoyou."

           "Whatwithplatinumandperoxidethere’snolackofblondesonthestage."

           "Buthersisnatural."

           "Isit?IhadalongletterfromRogerthismorning.HeseemstobehavingquiteagoodtimeinVienna."

           Tom’sinterestsubsided.Helookedathiswatch.WhenthecoffeecameJuliasaiditwasundrinkable.Shesaidshemusthavesomemoremade.

           "Oh,Julia,itisn’tworthwhile.Weshallbeawfullylate,"

           "Idon’tsupposeitmattersifwemissthefirstfewminutes."

           Hisvoicewasanguished.

           "Ipromisedwewouldn’tbelate.She’sgotaverygoodscenealmostatthebeginning."

           "I’msorry,butIcan’tgowithoutmycoffee."