the lion and the unicorn-第7节

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began　impressively；　〃I　went　to　a　large　supper　at　the　Savoy；　and　I
sat　next　to　Charley　Wimpole。　　He　came　in　late；　after　everybody
had　finished；　and　I　attacked　him　while　he　was　eating　his　supper。　
He　said　he　had　been　rehearsing　'Caste'　after　the　performance；
that　they've　put　it　on　as　a　stop…gap　on　account　of　the　failure　of
the　'Triflers；'　and　that　he　knew　revivals　were　of　no　use；　that　he
would　give　any　sum　for　a　good　modern　comedy。　　That　was　my　cue；
and　I　told　him　I　knew　of　a　better　comedy　than　any　he　had　produced
at　his　theatre　in　five　years；　and　that　it　was　going　begging。　　He
laughed；　and　asked　where　was　he　to　find　this　wonderful　comedy；
and　I　said；　　'It's　been　in　your　safe　for　the　last　two　months
and　you　haven't　read　it。'　　He　said；　'Indeed；　how　do　you　know
that？'　and　I　said；　'Because　if　you'd　read　it；　it　wouldn't　be　in
your　safe；　but　on　your　stage。'　　So　he　asked　me　what　the　play　was
about；　and　I　told　him　the　plot　and　what　sort　of　a　part　his　was；
and　some　of　his　scenes；　and　he　began　to　take　notice。　　He　forgot
his　supper；　and　very　soon　he　grew　so　interested　that　he　turned
his　chair　round　and　kept　eying　my　supper…card　to　find　out　who　I
was；　and　at　last　remembered　seeing　me　in　'The　New　Boy'and　a
rotten　part　it　was；　toobut　he　remembered　it；　and　he　told　me　to
go　on　and　tell　him　more　about　your　play。　　So　I　recited　it；　bit　by
bit；　and　he　laughed　in　all　the　right　places　and　got　very　much
excited；　and　said　finally　that　he　would　read　it　the　first　thing
this　morning。〃　　Marion　paused；　breathlessly。　　〃Oh；　yes；　and　he
wrote　your　address　on　his　cuff；〃　she　added；　with　the　air　of
delivering　a　complete　and　convincing　climax。

Carroll　stared　at　her　and　pulled　excitedly　on　his　pipe。

〃Oh；　Marion！〃　he　gasped；　〃suppose　he　should？　　He　won't
though；〃　he　added；　but　eying　her　eagerly　and　inviting
contradiction。

〃He　will；〃　she　answered；　stoutly；　〃if　he　reads　it。〃

〃The　other　managers　read　it；〃　Carroll　suggested；　doubtfully。

〃Yes；　but　what　do　they　know？〃　Marion　returned；　loftily。　　〃He
knows。　　Charles　Wimpole　is　the　only　intelligent　actor…manager　in
London。〃

There　was　a　sharp　knock　at　the　door；　which　Marion　in　her
excitement　had　left　ajar；　and　Prentiss　threw　it　wide　open　with　an
impressive　sweep；　as　though　he　were　announcing　royalty：　　〃Mr。
Charles　Wimpole；〃　he　said。

The　actor…manager　stopped　in　the　doorway　bowing　gracefully；　his
hat　held　before　him　and　his　hand　on　his　stick　as　though　it　were
resting　on　a　foil。　　He　had　the　face　and　carriage　of　a　gallant　of
the　days　of　Congreve；　and　he　wore　his　modern　frock…coat　with　as
much　distinction　as　if　it　were　of　silk　and　lace。　　He　was
evidently　amused。　　〃I　couldn't　help　overhearing　the　last　line；〃
he　said；　smiling。　　〃It　gives　me　a　good　entrance。〃

Marion　gazed　at　him　blankly：　〃Oh；〃　she　gasped；　〃wewewere　just
talking　about　you。〃

〃If　you　hadn't　mentioned　my　name；〃　the　actor　said；　〃I　should
never　have　guessed　it。　　And　this　is　Mr。　Carroll；　I　hope。〃

The　great　man　was　rather　pleased　with　the　situation。　　As　he　read
it；　it　struck　him　as　possessing　strong　dramatic　possibilities：
Carroll　was　the　struggling　author　on　the　verge　of　starvation：
Marion；　his　sweetheart；　flying　to　him　gave　him　hope；　and　he　was
the　good　fairy　arriving　in　the　nick　of　time　to　set　everything
right　and　to　make　the　young　people　happy　and　prosperous。　　He
rather　fancied　himself　in　the　part　of　the　good　fairy；　and　as　he
seated　himself　he　bowed　to　them　both　in　a　manner　which　was
charmingly　inclusive　and　confidential。

〃Miss　Cavendish；　I　imagine；　has　already　warned　you　that　you　might
expect　a　visit　from　me；〃　he　said　tentatively。　　Carroll　nodded。　
He　was　too　much　concerned　to　interrupt。

〃Then　I　need　only　tell　you；〃　Wimpole　continued；　〃that　I　got　up　at
an　absurd　hour　this　morning　to　read　your　play；　that　I　did
read　it；　that　I　like　it　immenselyand　that　if　we　can　come　to
terms　I　shall　produce　it　I　shall　produce　it　at　once；　within　a
fortnight　or　three　weeks。〃

Carroll　was　staring　at　him　intently　and　continued　doing　so　after
Wimpole　had　finished　speaking。　　The　actor　felt　he　had　somehow
missed　his　point；　or　that　Carroll　could　not　have　understood　him；
and　repeated；　〃I　say　I　shall　put　it　in　rehearsal　at　once。〃

Carroll　rose　abruptly；　and　pushed　back　his　chair。　　〃I　should　be
very　glad；〃　he　murmured；　and　strode　over　to　the　window；　where　he
stood　with　his　back　turned　to　his　guests。　　Wimpole　looked　after
him　with　a　kindly　smile　and　nodded　his　head　appreciatively。　　He
had　produced　even　a　greater　effect　than　his　lines　seemed　to
warrant。　　When　he　spoke　again；　it　was　quite　simply；　and
sincerely；　and　though　he　spoke　for　Carroll's　benefit；　he
addressed　himself　to　Marion。

〃You　were　quite　right　last　night；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　a　most
charming　piece　of　work。　　I　am　really　extremely　grateful　to　you
for　bringing　it　to　my　notice。〃　　He　rose；　and　going　to
Carroll；　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder。　　〃My　boy；〃　he　said；　〃I
congratulate　you。　　I　should　like　to　be　your　age；　and　to　have
written　that　play。　　Come　to　my　theatre　to…morrow　and　we　will　talk
terms。　　Talk　it　over　first　with　your　friends；　so　that　I　sha'n't
rob　you。　　Do　you　think　you　would　prefer　a　lump　sum　now；　and　so　be
done　with　it　altogether；　or　trust　that　the　royalties　may〃

〃Royalties；〃　prompted　Marion；　in　an　eager　aside。

The　men　laughed。　　〃Quite　right；〃　Wimpole　assented；　good…
humoredly；　〃it's　a　poor　sportsman　who　doesn't　back　his　own　horse。

Well；　then；　until　to…morrow。〃

〃But；〃　Carroll　began；　〃one　moment　please。　　I　haven't　thanked
you。〃

〃My　dear　boy；〃　cried　Wimpole；　waving　him　away　with　his　stick；　〃it
is　I　who　have　to　thank　you。〃

〃Andand　there　is　a　condition；〃　Carroll　said；　〃which　goes　with
the　play。　　It　is　that　Miss　Cavendish　is　to　have　the　part　of
Nancy。〃

Wimpole　looked　serious　and　considered　for　a　moment。

〃Nancy；〃　he　said；　〃the　girl　who　interferesa　very　good　part。　
I　have　cast　Miss　Maddox　for　it　in　my　mind；　but；　of　course；　if　the
author　insists〃

Marion；　with　her　elbows　on　the　table；　clasped　her　hands
appealingly　before　her。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Wimpole！〃　she　cried；　〃you　owe　me　that；　at　least。〃

Carroll　leaned　over　and　took　both　of　Marion's　hands　in　one　of
his。

〃It's　all　right；〃　he　said；　〃the　author　insists。〃

Wimpole　waved　his　stick　again　as　though　it　were　the　magic　wand　of
the　good　fairy。

〃You　shall　have　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　recall　your　performance　in　'The
New　Boy'　with　pleasure。　　I　take　the　play；　and　Miss　Cavendish
shall　be　cast　for　Nancy。　　We　shall　begin　rehearsals　at　once。　　I
hope　you　are　a　quick　study。〃

〃I'm　letter…perfect　now｛；｝〃　laughed　Marion。

Wimpole　turned　at　the　door　and　nodded　to　them。　　They　were　both　so
young；　so　eager；　and　so　jubilant　that　he　felt　strangely　old　and
out　of　it。　　〃Good…by；　then；〃　he　said。

〃Good…by；　sir；〃　they　both　chorussed。　　And　Marion　cried　after
him；　〃And　thank　you　a　thousand　times。〃

He　turned　again　and　looked　back　at　them；　but　in　their　rejoicing
they　had　already　forgotten　him。　　〃Bless　you；　my　children；〃　he
said；　smiling。　　As　he　was　about　to　close　the　door　a　young　girl
came　down　the　passage　toward　it；　and　as　she　was　apparently　going
to　Carroll's　rooms；　the　actor　left　the　door　open　behind　him。

Neither　Marion　nor　Carroll　had　noticed　his　final　exit。　　They　were
both　gazing　at　each　other　as　though；　could　they　find　speech；　they
would　ask　if　it　were　true。

〃It's　come　at　last；　Marion；〃　Philip　said；　with　an　uncertain
voice。

〃I　could　weep；〃　cried　Marion。　　〃　Philip；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　would
rather　see　that　play　succeed　than　any　play　ever　written；　and　I
would　rather　play　that　part　in　it　thanOh；　Philip；〃　she　ended。　
〃I'm　so　proud　of　you！〃　and　rising；　she　threw　her　arms　about　his
neck　and　sobbed　on　his　shoulder。

Carroll　raised　one　of　her　hands　and　kissed　the　tips　of　her
fingers　gently。　　〃I　owe　it　to　you；　Marion；〃　he　said〃all　to
you。〃

This　was　the　tableau　that　was　presented　through　the　open　door　to
Miss　Helen　Cabot；　hurrying　on　her　errand　of　restitution　and　good…
will；　and　with　Philip's　ring　and　watch　clasped　in　her　hand。　　They
had　not　heard　her；　nor　did　they　see　her　at　the　door；　so　she　drew
back　quickly　and　ran　along　the　passage　and　down　the　stairs　into
the　street。

She　did　not　need　now　to　analyze　her　feelings。　　They　were　only　too
evident。　　For　she　could　translate　what　she　had　just　seen　as
meaning　only　one　thingthat　she　had　considered　Philip's　love　so
lightly　that　she　had　not　felt　it　passing　away　from　her　until　her
neglect　had　killed　ituntil　it　was　too　late。　　And　now　that　it
was　too　late　she　felt　that　without　it　her　life　could　not　go　on。　
She　tried　to　assure　herself　that　only　the　fact　that　she　had　lost
it　made　it　seem　invaluable；　but　this　thought　did　not　comfort
hershe　was　not　deceived　by　it；　she　knew　that　at　last　she　cared
for　him　deeply　and　entirely。　　In　her　distress　she　blamed　herself
bitterly；　but　she　also　blamed　Philip　no　less　bitterly　for　having
failed　to　wait　for　her。　　〃He　might　have　known　that　I　must　love
him　in　time；〃　she　repeated　to　herself　again　and　again。　　She
was　so　unhappy　that　her　letter　congratulating　Philip　on　his　good
fortune　in　having　his　comedy　accepted　seemed　to　him　cold　and
unfeeling；　and　as　his　success　meant　for　him　only　what　it　meant　to
her；　he　was　hurt　and　grievously　disappointed。

He　accordingly　t