Театр

           ShewasontourinamelodramathathadbeensuccessfulinLondon;inthepartofanItalianadventuress,whosemachinationswereeventuallyexposed,shewastryingsomewhatinadequatelytorepresentawomanofforty.Sincetheheroine,ablondepersonofmatureyears,wasplayingayounggirl,theperformancelackedverisimilitude.Jimmiewastakingashortholidaywhichhespentingoingeverynighttothetheatreinonetownafteranother.AttheendofthepiecehewentroundtoseeJulia.Hewaswellenoughknowninthetheatricalworldforhertobeflatteredbythecomplimentshepaidher,andwhenheaskedhertolunchwithhimnextdaysheaccepted.

           Theyhadnosoonersatdowntotablethanhewentstraighttothepoint.

           "Ineversleptawinkallnightforthinkingofyou,"hesaid.

           "Thisisverysudden.Isyourproposalhonourableordishonourable?"

           Hetooknonoticeoftheflippantrejoinder.

           "I’vebeenatthisgamefortwenty-fiveyears.I’vebeenacall-boy,astage-hand,astage-manager,anactor,apublicityman,damnit,I’veevenbeenacritic.I’velivedinthetheatresinceIwasakidjustoutofaboardschool,andwhatIdon’tknowaboutactingisn’tworthknowing.Ithinkyou’reagenius."

           "It’ssweetofyoutosayso."

           "Shutup.Leavemetodothetalking.You’vegoteverything.You’retherightheight,you’vegotagoodfigure,you’vegotanindiarubber*face."

           "Flattering,aren’tyou?"

           "That’sjustwhatIam.That’sthefaceanactresswants.