United States or Bermuda ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He wants to see Mr. Heath. There's the elevator!" At this moment the lift appeared, sinking from the upper regions under the guidance of a smiling colored man. "I'll come up with you, Claudie. Are you going on the stage, Monsieur Gillier?" "No, madame, not yet. I must speak to Mademoiselle Mardon about the Ouled Naïl scene." People were hurrying in, looking preoccupied.
"I tell you honestly," she said, looking at Charmian with fatalistic eyes, "I don't believe in it. But I'll do my best." "But I thought you were delighted with the first act. Surely Monsieur Gillier told me " "Oh, I only spoke to him about the libretto. That's a masterpiece. Did you ever see such a dress as that elephant Haynes expects me to wear for the third act?"
Gillier got up, throwing his cigarette end into the brass coffee tray. He was evidently much excited. As he stood up in front of her Charmian thought that he looked suddenly more common, coarser. He thrust his hands into the pockets of his black trousers. "I must understand the position," he began. "It is perfectly clear.
If you offered us five times what we gave you for it the answer would be the same." She paused. Gillier said nothing. She looked at him and suddenly anger, a sense of outrage, got the better of her, and she added with intense bitterness: "We are living here in North Africa, we have given up our home, our friends, our occupations, everything our life in England" her voice trembled.
Gillier, returning to his varnish, sprang up, dropping the paper, and opened the door. "Don't forget what I said," she remarked as she went out. "Five times the price anyone else offers, on account of a royalty to be fixed by mutual agreement. But it would have to be a libretto numéro un." He looked at her but did not say a word.
He was insensibly drawn to the Heaths by the spell of united effort. Now that Claude did not seem to care twopence for him, or for anyone else, Gillier began to respect him, to think a good deal of him. In Charmian he had always been aware of certain faculties which often make for success.
His face changed. "Nothing. It's all going well so far." "Perfectly. Adelaide Shiffney's here." "I know." Charmian's fingers unclasped. "You've seen her?" "No, but I heard she was here with Jonson Ramer." "Yes. I've " They fell into silence, concentrated upon the stage. In a few minutes they were joined by Gillier, who sat down just behind them. With his coming their attention was intensified.
Gillier blew forth a cloud of smoke, turned a little in his chair and looked at his cigar. He seemed to be considering something. "Then the expedition was a success?" said Charmian. Gillier glanced at her and took another sip of brandy. "Who knows, madame?" "Who knows? Why, how do you mean?" "Madame, since I have been away with your husband I confess I begin to have certain doubts."
Send us a fine libretto, such as I know you can write, and we will pay you five times as much as anyone else would, on account of a royalty. We should not mind even if someone else had already tried to set it. All we care about is to get your best work. Gillier had torn this note up with fury. Then he had thought things over and paid Madame Sennier a visit.
On the day when Charmian was expected to see Susan Fleet she had just come from an afternoon rehearsal which had gone well. Gillier had been almost savagely delighted with the performance of Enid Mardon, who sang and acted the rôle of the heroine.
Word Of The Day