Part 19 (2/2)
Scowling, Edward Henry rose ”Excuse me,” he said ”I won't be a o, I fancy”
The last re
The next room was the vast bedroom with two beds in it Edward Henry closed the door carefully, and drew the _portiere_ across it Then he listened No sound penetrated from the scene of the supper
”There _is_ a telephone in this room, isn't there?” he said to Joseph
”Oh, yes, there it is! Well, you can go”
”Yes, sir”
Edward Henry sat down on one of the beds by the hook on which hung the telephone And he cogitated upon the characteristics of certain in ht ”I'in by discussing the name of the theatre! And they haven't even taken up the option! Ye Gods! 'Intellectual'! 'Muses'!
'The Orient Pearl' And she's fifty--that I swear! Not a word yet of real business--not one word! He may be a poet I daresay he is He's a conceited ass Why, even Bryany was better than that lot Only Sachs turned Bryany out I like Sachs But he won't open his mouth
'Capitalist'! Well, they spoilt ne!
The poet hates ing her one over to Pilgriraphed indeed! The bally photographer will be here in a minute! They take me for a fool! Or don't they know any better? Anyhow, I am a fool I must teach 'em summat!”
He seized the telephone
”hello!” he said into it ”I want you to put -room of Suite No 48, please Who? Oh, me! I'm in the bedroom of Suite No
48 Machin, Alderht”
He waited Then he heard Harrier's Kensingtonian voice in the telephone asking who he was
”Is that Mr Machin's roo with a broad farcical effect the acute Kensingtonianism of Mr Marrier's tones ”Is Miss Ra-ose Euclid there? Oh! She is! Well, you tell her that Sir John Pilgriht
_I_'ll hold the line”
A pause Then he heard Rose's voice in the telephone, and he resu pardon! Banks? Oh, _Banks_!
No, I'm not Banks I suppose you mean my predecessor He's left Left last week No, I don't knohy Sir John instructs me to ask if you and Mr Trent could lunch with him to-morroun-thirty? What?
Oh! at his house Yes I mean flat Flat! I said flat You think you could?”
Pause He could hear her calling to Carlo Trent
”Thanks No, I don't know exactly,” he went on again ”But I know the arrangement with Miss Pryde is broken off And Sir John wants a play at once He told me that! At once! Yes 'The Orient Pearl' That was the title At the Royal first, and then the world's tour Fifteen athered Of course I don't speak officially Well, ed One-thirty to- up the telephone The excited, eager, effusive tones of Rose Euclid ree pheno
”I'll teach 'e or two,” he muttered