Театр

           TheyweregoingtoGuildfordtospendtheweek-endwithDolly,andweredrivingdownaftertheSaturdaynight’sperformanceinthenewcarthatJuliahadgivenMichaelforhisbirthday.Itwasawarmbeautifulnight.Michaelhadboughtoptions,thoughitwrunghishearttowritethecheques,onthreeplaysthattheybothliked,andhehadheardofatheatrethattheycouldgetonreasonableterms.Everythingwasreadyfortheventureexceptthecapital.HeurgedJuliatoseizetheopportunitythattheweek-endpresented.

           "Askheryourselfthen,"saidJuliaimpatiently."Itellyou,I’mnotgoingto."

           "Shewouldn’tdoitforme.Youcantwistherroundyourlittlefinger."

           "Weknowathingortwoaboutfinancingplaysnow.Peoplefinanceplaysfortworeasons,eitherbecausetheywantnotoriety,*orbecausethey’reinlovewithsomeone.Alotofpeopletalkaboutart,butyoudon’toftenfindthempayingouthardcashunlessthey’regoingtogetsomethingoutofitforthemselves."

           "Well,we’llgiveDollyallthenotorietyshewants."

           "Thatdoesn’thappentobewhatshe’safter."

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Can’tyouguess?"

           Lightdawnedonhim,andhewassosurprisedthathesloweddown.WasitpossiblethatwhatJuliasuspectedwastrue?HehadnevereventhoughtthatDollylikedhimmuch,andasforsupposingshewasinlovewithhim-why,thenotionhadnevercrossedhismind.OfcourseJuliahadsharpeyes,notmuchgotbyher,butshewasajealouslittlething,shewasalwaysthinkingwomenweremakingadeadsetathim.