Part 19 (1/2)
”I never saw 'King John,'” said Edward Henry
”_Do you mean to say_,” expostulated Carlo Trent in italics, ”_that you never saw Rose Euclid as Constance_?”
And Edward Henry, shaking his abashed head, perceived that his life had been wasted
Carlo, for a few rew reflective and softer
”It's one of my earliest and most precious boyish”It hteen--”
Rose Euclid abandoned the ice hich she had just been served, and by a single gesture drew Carlo's attention away fro, and towards the fact that it would be cluy of her career She began to blush again
Mr Marrier, now back at the table after a successful expedition, beamed over his ice:
”It was your 'Constance' that led to your friendshi+p with the Countess of Chell, wasn't it, Ra-ose? You know,” he turned to Edward Henry, ”Miss Euclid and the Countess are virry intimate”
”Yes, I know,” said Edward Henry
Rose Euclid continued to blush Her agitated hand scratched the back of the chair behind her
”Even Sir John Pilgrim admits I can act Shakspere,” she said in a thickat the cloth as she pronounced the august name of the head of the dramatic profession ”It o, after he'd quarrelled with Selina Gregory, Sir John asked me if I'd care to star with hi, and I said I would if he'd include Carlo's poetical play, 'The Orient Pearl,' and he wouldn't! No, he wouldn't! And now he's got little Cora Pryde! She isn't twenty-two, and she's going to play Juliet! Can you iirl could play Juliet!”
Carlo observed the mature actress with deep satisfaction, proud of her, and proud also of hirim now,” exclaimed Rose, passionately, ”not if he went down on his knees toon earth would induce me to let him have 'The Orient Pearl'!” Carlo Trent asseverated with equal passion ”He's lost that for ever!” he added grimly ”It won't be he who'll collar the profits out of that! It'll just be ourselves!”
”Not if he went down on his knees toto herself with fervency
The calm of despair took possession of Edward Henry He felt that heexperience
Exploring the pockets of the dressing-gohich had aroused the longing of the greatest dramatic poet in the world, he discovered in one of them precisely the piece of apparatus he required--na It was a carbon duplicate of the bill for the dressing-gown, and showed the word ”Drook” in ures 4, 4s in faint blue He drew a pencil from his waistcoat and inscribed on the paper:
”Go out, and then come back in a couple of ently in the next rooave the document to Joseph, who, evidently well trained under Sir Nicholas, vanished into the next roo to read it
”I hope,” said Edward Henry to Carlo Trent, ”that thisplay is reserved for the new theatre?”
”Utterly,” said Carlo Trent
”With Miss Euclid in the principal part?”
”Rather!” sang Mr Marrier ”Rather!”
”I shall never, never appear at any other theatre, Mr Machin!” said Rose, with tragic e the back of her chair ”So I hope the building will begin at once In less than sixthe optiht his master's attention in a whisper
”What is it?” Edward Henry asked irritably ”Speak up!”
”A gentleman wishes to know if he can speak to you in the next rooent, sir”