Театр
Chapter 9
Hedevotedanxiouscaretohisfigure.Heneverateafatteningthingandneverforgothisexercises.Heconsultedhairspecialistswhenhethoughthishairwasthinning,andJuliawasconvincedthathaditbeenpossibletogettheoperationdonesecretlyhewouldhavehadhisfacelifted.Hehadgotintothewayofsittingwithhischinslightlythrustoutsothatthewrinklesinhisneckshouldnotshowandheheldhimselfwithanarchedbacktokeephisbellyfromsagging.Hecouldnotpassamirrorwithoutlookingintoit.Hehankeredforcomplimentsandbeamedwithdelightwhenhehadmanagedtoextractone.Theywerefoodanddrinktohim.Julialaughedbitterlywhensherememberedthatitwasshewhohadaccustomedhimtothem.Foryearsshehadtoldhimhowbeautifulhewasandnowhecouldnotlivewithoutflattery.Itwastheonlychinkinhisarmour.Anactressoutofajobhadonlytotellhimtohisfacethathewastoohandsometobetrueforhimtothinkthatshemightdoforaparthehadinmind.Foryears,sofarasJuliaknew,Michaelhadnotbotheredwithwomen,butwhenhereachedthemiddlefortieshebegantohavelittleflirtations.Juliasuspectedthatnothingmuchcameofthem.Hewasprudent,andallhewantedwasadmiration.Shehadheardthatwhenwomenbecamepressingheusedherasapretexttogetridofthem.Eitherhecouldn’triskdoinganythingtohurther,orshewasjealousorsuspiciousanditseemedbetterthatthefriendshipshouldcease.
"Godknowswhattheyseeinhim,"Juliaexclaimedtotheemptyroom
