Part 89 (1/2)
”I've come to take you to the theater.”
”But they're not rehearsing to-night,” said Claude.
”No; but Crayford's trying effects.”
”Mr. Crayford! Is he back from Philadelphia?” exclaimed Charmian.
”Been back an hour and hard at work already. He sent me to fetch you.
They're all up on the stage trying to get the locust effect.”
”The locusts! Wait a minute, Alston! I'll change my gown.”
She hurried out of the room.
”Well, old chap, what's up? You don't look too pleased,” said Alston to Claude as the door shut. ”Don't you want to come out? But we must put our backs into this, you know. The fight's on, and a bully big fight it is. Seen the papers to-day?”
”No. I haven't had a minute. I've been going through the orchestration with Meroni.”
”What does he say?”
”He was very nice,” answered Claude evasively. ”But what's in the papers?”
”A bit of news that's made Crayford bristle like a scrubbing brush. The Metropolitan's changed the date for the production of Sennier's new opera, put it forward by nearly a fortnight, pledged themselves to be ready by the first of March.”
”What does it matter?”
”Well, I like that! It takes all the wind out of our sails. In a big race the getting off is half the battle. We were coming first. But if I know anything of Crayford we shall come first even now. It's all Madame Sennier. She's mad against Crayford and the opera and you, and she's specially mad against Mrs. Charmian. The papers to-night are full of a lot of nonsense about the libretto.”
”Which libretto?”
”Yours. Apparently Madame Sennier's been saying it was really written for Sennier and had been promised to him.”
”That's a lie.”
”Of course it is. But she's spread herself on it finely, I can tell you.
Crayford's simply delighted.”
”Delighted, when I'm accused of mean conduct, of stealing another man's property.”
”It's no use getting furious over our papers! Doesn't pay! Besides, it makes a story, works up public interest. Still, I think she might have kept out Mrs. Charmian's name.”
”Charmian is in it?”
”Yes, a lot of rubbish about her hearing what a stunner the libretto was, and rus.h.i.+ng over to Paris to bribe it away before Sennier had considered it in its finished state.”
”How abominable! I shall--”
”I know, but I wouldn't. Crayford says it will give value to the libretto, prepare the public mind for a masterpiece, and help to carry your music to success.”
”I see! With this and the locusts!”