merton of the movies-第28节

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rs。　Patterson's　sake；　and　was　relieved　when　she　accepted　it　without　question　that　night。

Later　he　tested　the　handful　of　silver　that　remained　to　him　and　prayed　earnestly　that　an　increase　of　prosperity　be　granted　to　producers　of　the　motion　picture。　With　the　silver　he　eked　out　another　barren　week；　only　to　face　a　day　the　evening　of　which　must　witness　another　fiscal　transaction　with　Mrs。　Patterson。　And　there　was　no　longer　a　bill　for　this　heartless　society　creature。　He　took　a　long　look　at　the　pleasant　little　room　as　he　left　it　that　morning。　The　day　must　bring　something　but　it　might　not　bring　him　back　that　night。

At　the　drug　store　he　purchased　a　bowl　of　vegetable　soup；　loaded　it　heavily　with　catsup　at　intervals　when　the　attendant　had　other　matters　on　his　mind；　and　seized　an　extra　halfportion　of　crackers　left　on　their　plate　by　a　satiated　neighbour。　He　cared　little　for　catsup；　but　it　doubtless　bore　nourishing　elements；　and　nourishment　was　now　important。　He　crumpled　his　paper　napkin　and　laid　upon　the　marble　slab　a　trifling　silver　coin。　It　was　the　last　of　his　hoard。　When　he　should　eat　next　and　under　what　circumstances　were　now　as　uncertain　as　where　he　should　sleep　that　night；　though　he　was　already　resolving　that　catsup　would　be　no　part　of　his　meal。　It　might　be　well　enough　in　its　place；　but　he　had　abundantly　proved　that　it　was　not；　strictly　speaking；　a　food。

He　reached　the　Holden　studios　and　loitered　outside　for　half　an　hour　before　daring　the　daily　inquiry　at　the　window。　Yet；　when　at　last　he　did　approach　it；　his　waning　faith　in　prayer　was　renewed；　for　here　in　his　direst　hour　was　cheering　news。　It　seemed　even　that　his　friend　beyond　the　window　had　been　impatient　at　his　coming。

〃Just　like　you　to　be　late　when　there's　something　doing！〃　she　called　to　him　with　friendly　impatience。　〃Get　over　to　the　dressing　rooms　on　the　double…quick。　It's　the　Victor　people　doing　some　Egyptian　stuff　they'll　give　you　a　costume。　Hurry　along！〃

And　he　had　lingered　over　a　bowl　of　soggy　crackers　soaked；　at　the　last；　chiefly　in　catsup！　He　hurried；　with　a　swift　word　of　thanks。

In　the　same　dressing　room　where　he　had　once　been　made　up　as　a　Broadway　pleasure　seeker　he　now　donned　the　flowing　robe　and　burnoose　of　a　Bedouin；　and　by　the　same　grumbling　extra　his　face　and　hands　were　stained　the　rich　brown　of　children　of　the　desert。　A　dozen　other　men　of　the　paler　race　had　undergone　the　same　treatment。　A　sheik　of　great　stature　and　noble　mien　smoked　an　idle　cigarette　in　the　doorway。　He　was　accoutred　with　musket　and　with　pistols　in　his　belt。

An　assistant　director　presently　herded　the　desert　men　down　an　alley　between　two　of　the　big　stages　and　to　the　beginning　of　the　oriental　street　that　Merton　had　noticed　on　his　first　day　within　the　Holden　walls。　It　was　now　peopled　picturesquely　with　other　Bedouins。　Banners　hung　from　the　walls　and　veiled　ladies　peeped　from　the　latticed　balconies。　A　camel　was　led　excitingly　through　the　crowded　way；　and　donkeys　and　goats　were　to　be　observed。　It　was　a　noisy　street　until　a　whistle　sounded　at　the　farther　end；　then　all　was　silence　while　the　voice　of　Henshaw　came　through　the　megaphone。

It　appeared　that　long　shots　of　the　street　were　Henshaw's　first　need。　Up　and　down　it　Merton　Gill　strolled　in　a　negligent　manner；　stopping　perhaps　to　haggle　with　the　vendor　who　sold　sweetmeats　from　a　tray；　or　to　chat　with　a　tribal　brother　fresh　from　the　sandy　wastes；　or　to　purchase　a　glass　of　milk　from　the　man　with　the　goats。　He　secured　a　rose　from　the　flower　seller；　and　had　the　inspiration　to　toss　it　to　one　of　the　discreet　balconies　above　him；　but　as　he　stepped　back　to　do　this　he　was　stopped　by　the　watchful　assistant　director　who　stood　just　inside　a　doorway。　〃Hey；　Bill；　none　of　that！　Keep　your　head　down；　and　pay　no　attention　to　the　dames。　It　ain't　done。〃

He　strolled　on　with　the　rose　in　his　hand。　Later；　and　much　nearer　the　end　of　the　street　where　the　cameras　were；　he　saw　the　sheik　of　noble　mien　halt　the　flower　seller；　haggle　for　another　rose；　place　this　daintily　behind　his　left　ear　and　stalk　on；　his　musket　held　over　one　shoulder；　his　other　hand　on　a　belted　pistol。　Merton　disposed　of　his　rose　in　the　same　manner。　He　admired　the　sheik　for　his　stature；　his　majestic　carriage；　his　dark；　handsome；　yet　sinister　face　with　its　brooding　eyes。　He　thought　this　man；　at　least；　would　be　a　true　Arab；　some　real　son　of　the　desert　who　had　wandered　afar。　His　manner　was　so　much　more　authentic　than　that　of　the　extra　people　all　about。

A　whistle　blew　and　the　street　action　was　suspended。　There　was　a　long　wait　while　cameras　were　moved　up　and　groups　formed　under　the　direction　of　Henshaw　and　his　assistant。　A　band　of　Bedouins　were　now　to　worship　in　the　porch　of　a　mosque。　Merton　Gill　was　among　these。　The　assistant　director　initiated　them　briefly　into　Moslem　rites。　Upon　prayer　rugs　they　bowed　their　foreheads　to　earth　in　the　direction　of　Mecca。

〃What's　the　idea　of　this　here？〃　demanded　Merton　Gill's　neighbour　in　aggrieved　tones。

〃Ssh！〃　cautioned　Merton。　〃It's　Mass　or　something　like　that。〃　And　they　bent　in　unison　to　this　noon…tide　devotion。

When　this　was　done　Henshaw　bustled　into　the　group。　〃I　want　about　a　dozen　or　fifteen　good　types　for　the　cafe；〃　he　explained　to　his　assistant。　Merton　Gill　instinctively　stood　forward；　and　was　presently　among　those　selected。　〃You'll　do；〃　said　Henshaw；　nodding。　The　director；　of　course；　had　not　remembered　that　this　was　the　actor　he　had　distinguished　in　The　Blight　of　Broadway；　yet　he　had　again　chosen　him　for　eminence。　It　showed；　Merton　felt；　that　his　conviction　about　the　screen　value　of　his　face　was　not　ill　founded。

The　selected　types　were　now　herded　into　a　dark；　narrow；　low…ceiled　room　with　a　divan　effect　along　its　three　walls。　A　grizzled　Arab　made　coffee　over　a　glowing　brazier。　Merton　Gill　sat　cross…legged　on　the　divan　and　became　fearful　that　he　would　be　asked　to　smoke　the　narghileh　which　the　assistant　director　was　now　preparing。　To　one　who　balked　at　mere　cigarettes；　it　was　an　evil…appearing　device。　His　neighbour　who　had　been　puzzled　at　prayer…time　now　hitched　up　his　flowing　robe　to　withdraw　a　paper　of　cigarettes　from　the　pocket　of　a　quite　occidental　garment。

〃Go　on；　smoke　cigarettes；〃　said　the　assistant　director。

〃Have　one？〃　said　Merton's　neighbour；　and　he　took　one。　It　seemed　you　couldn't　get　away　from　cigarettes　on　the　screen。　East　and　West　were　here　one。　He　lighted　it；　though　smoking　warily。　The　noble　sheik；　of　undoubtedly　Asiatic　origin；　came　to　the　doorway　overlooking　the　assistant　director's　work　on　the　narghileh。　A　laden　camel　halted　near　him；　sneered　in　an　evil　manner　at　the　bystanders；　and　then；　lifting　an　incredible　length　of　upper　lip；　set　his　yellow　teeth　in　the　nearest　shoulder。　It　was　the　shoulder　of　the　noble　sheik；　who　instantly　rent　the　air　with　a　plaintive　cry：　〃For　the　love　of　Mike！keep　that　man…eater　off'n　me；　can't　you？〃

His　accent　had　not　been　that　of　the　Arabian　waste…land。　Merton　Gill　was　disappointed。　So　the　fellow　was　only　an　actor；　after　all。　If　he　had　felt　sympathy　at　all；　it　would　now　have　been　for　the　camel。　The　beast　was　jerked　back　with　profane　words　and　the　sheik；　rubbing　his　bitten　shoulder；　entered　the　cafe；　sitting　cross…legged　at　the　end　of　the　divan　nearest　the　door。

〃All　right；　Bob。〃　The　assistant　director　handed　him　the　tube　of　the　water　pipe；　and　the　sheik　smoked　with　every　sign　of　enjoyment。　Merton　Gill　resolved　never　to　play　the　part　of　an　Arab　sheikat　the　mercy　of　man…eating　camels　and　having　to　smoke　something　that　looked　murderous。

Under　Henshaw's　direction　the　grizzled　proprietor　now　served　tiny　cups　of　coffee　to　the　sheik　and　his　lesser　patrons。　Two　of　these　played　dominoes；　and　one　or　two　reclined　as　in　sleep。　Cameras　were　brought　up。　The　interior　being　to　his　satisfaction；　Henshaw　rehearsed　the　entrance　of　a　little　band　of　European　tourists。　A　beautiful　girl　in　sports　garb；　a　beautiful　young　man　in　khaki　and　puttees；　a　fine　old　British　father　with　gray　side　whiskers　shaded　by　a　sun…hat　with　a　flowing　veil　twined　about　it。　These　people　sat　and　were　served　coffee；　staring　in　a　tourist　manner　at　their　novel　surroundings。　The　Bedouins；　under　stern　command；　ignored　them；　conversing　among　themselves　over　their　coffeeall　but　the　sheik。

The　sheik　had　been　instantly　struck　by　the　fair　young　English　girl。　His　sinister　eyes　hung　constantly　upon　her；　shifting　only　when　she　regarded　him；　furtively　returning　when　she　ceased。　When　they　left　the　cafe；　the　sheik　arose　and　placed　himself　partly　in　the　girl's　way。　She　paused　while　his　dark　eyes　caught　and　held　hers。　A　long　moment　went　before　she　seemed　able　to　free　herself　from　the　hypnotic　tension　he　put　upon　her。　Then　he　bowed　low；　and　the　girl　with　a　nervous　laugh　passed　him。

It　could　be　seen　that　the　sheik　meant　her　no　good。　He　stepped　to　the　door　and　looked　after　the　group。　There　was　evil　purpose　in　his　gaze。

Merton　Gill　recalled　something　of　Henshaw's　words　the　first　day　he　had　eaten　at　the　cafeteria：　〃They　find　this　deserted　tomb　just　at　nightfall；　and　he's　alone　there　with　the　girl；　and　he　could　do　anything；　but　the　kick　for　the　audience　is　that　he's　a　gentleman　and　never　lays　a　finger　on　her。〃

This　would　be　the　story。　Probably　the　sheik　would　now　arrange　with　the　old　gentleman　in　the　sun…hat　to　guide　the　party　over　the　desert；　and　would