Part 34 (2/2)
”A foundation-stone-laying!” mused Sir John ”But if you're already up to the first floor, how can you be laying the foundation-stone on Wednesday week?”
”I didn't say foundation-stone I said corners-tone,” Edward Henry corrected him ”An entire novelty! That's e can't be ready before Wednesday week”
”And you want to advertise your house by getting the head of the profession to assist?”
”That is exactly my idea”
”Well,” said Sir John, ”whatever else youin nerve, if you expect to succeed in _that_”
Edward Henry smiled ”I have already heard, in a roundabout way,” he replied, ”that Sir Gerald Po to officiate
My only difficulty is that I'm a truthful man by nature Whoever officiates I shall of course have to have him labelled, in my own interests, as the head of the theatrical profession, and I don't want to say anything that isn't true”
There was a pause
”Now, Sir John, couldn't you stay a day or two longer in London, and join the shi+p at Marseilles instead of going on board at Tilbury?”
”But I have oing on board at Tilbury”
Just then the door opened, and a servant announced:
”Mr Carlo Trent”
Sir John Pilgrim rushed like a locomotive to the threshold and seized both Carlo Trent's hands with such a violence of welcolass fell out of his eye and the purple ribbon dangled to his waist
”Coin to read at once I've been looking out of thefor you for the last quarter of an hour Alderman, this is Mr Carlo Trent, the well-known draeniuses in London Ah! You know each other? It's not surprising! No, don't stop to shake hands Sit down here, Trent Sit down on this chair Here, Snip, take his hat
Worry it! Worry it! Now, Trent, don't read to _htand to Mr Givington over there Ihtened public
You have i a poet?”
Sir John had accoe of mood with the rapidity of a transforreat adept
Carlo Trent, somewhat breathless, took a manuscript from his pocket, opened it, and announced: ”The Orient Pearl”
”Oh!” breathed Edward Henry
For some thirty minutes Edward Henry listened to hexameters, the first he had ever heard The effect of thelanced about at the other auditors
Givington had opened a box of tubes and was spreading colours on his palette The Chinarinned
Snip was asleep on the parquet Miss Taft bit the end of a pencil with her agreeable teeth Sir John Pilgris Edward Henry despaired of help in his great need But just as his desperation was beco too acute to be borne, Carlo Trent ejaculated the word ”Curtain” It was the first word that Edward Henry had clearly understood
”That's the first act,” said Carlo Trent, wiping his face Snip awakened
Edward Henry rose, and, in the hush, tiptoed round to the sofa
”Good-bye, Sir John,” he whispered