Театр

           AssoonasthedeedofpartnershiphadbeensignedandMichaelhadgothistheatrebookedfortheautumnheengagedapublicityagent.ParagraphsweresenttothepapersannouncingthenewventureandMichaelandthepublicityagentpreparedinterviewsforhimandJuliatogivetothePress.Photographsofthem,singlyandtogether,withandwithoutRoger,appearedintheweeklies.Thedomesticnotewasworkedforallitwasworth.Theycouldnotquitemakeuptheirmindswhichofthethreeplaystheyhaditwouldbebesttostartwith.ThenoneafternoonwhenJuliawassittinginherbedroomreadinganovel,Michaelcameinwithamanuscriptinhishand.

           "Lookhere,Iwantyoutoreadthisplayatonce.It’sjustcomeinfromanagent.Ithinkit’saknockout.Onlywe’vegottogiveananswerrightaway."

           Juliaputdownhernovel.

           "I’llreaditnow."

           "Ishallbedownstairs.Letmeknowwhenyou’vefinishedandI’llcomeupandtalkitoverwithyou.It’sgotawonderfulpartforyou."

           Juliareadquickly,skimmingoverthescenesinwhichshewasnotconcerned,buttheprincipalwoman’spart,thepartofcourseshewouldplay,withconcentration.Whenshehadturnedthelastpagesherangthebellandaskedhermaid(whowasalsoherdresser)totellMichaelshewasreadyforhim.

           "Well,whatd’youthink?"

           "Theplay’sallright.Idon’tseehowitcanfailtobeasuccess."

           Hecaughtsomethingdoubtfulinhertone.

           "What’swrongthen?Thepart’swonderful.Imean,it’sthesortofthingthatyoucandobetterthananyoneintheworld.