Театр

           MichaelthoughtthatJuliahadplayedthistrickonaccountoftheratherviolentflirtationhehadbeenhavingwithAvice,andthough,ofcourse,itwashardluckonAvicehecouldnothelpbeingatrifleflattered.

           "Youolddonkey,"smiledJulia,knowingexactlywhathewasthinkingandtickledtodeathathismistake."Afterall,youarethehandsomestmaninLondon."

           "Allthat’sasitmaybe.ButIdon’tknowwhattheauthor’llsay.He’saconceitedlittleapeandit’snotabitthescenehewrote."

           "Oh,leavehimtome.I’llfixhim."

           Therewasaknockatthedooranditwastheauthorhimselfwhocamein.Withacryofdelight,Juliawentuptohim,threwherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhimonbothcheeks.

           "Areyoupleased?"

           "Itlookslikeasuccess,"heanswered,butatriflecoldly.

           "Mydear,it’llrunforayear."Sheplacedherhandsonhisshouldersandlookedhimfullintheface."Butyou’reawicked,wickedman."

           "I?"

           "Youalmostruinedmyperformance.WhenIcametothatbitinthesecondactandsuddenlysawwhatitmeantInearlybrokedown.Youknewwhatwasinthatscene,you’retheauthor;whydidyouletusrehearseitallthetimeasiftherewasnomoreinitthanappearedonthesurface?We’reonlyactors,howcanyouexpectusto-tofathomyoursubtlety?It’sthebestsceneinyourplayandIalmostbungledit.Nooneintheworldcouldhavewrittenitbutyou.Yourplay’sbrilliant,butinthatscenethere’smorethanbrilliance,there’sgenius."

           Theauthorflushed.Julialookedathimwithveneration.