登陆注册
38537200000020

第20章 CHAPTER IX. MY FATHER HAS HIS IDEAS ON WHAT$$$$$S

The last rumble of applause had died away at the Parthenon Theater, but the audience were leaving very slowly; they wished to linger as long as possible within the atmosphere of the building; though, like the atmosphere of many sacred places, that of the Parthenon was, just at that time, a trifle unsavory. The first performance of the drama of "Cagliostro" had just taken place, and, as the first nights at the Parthenon are invariably regarded as the most exclusive functions of the year, the stalls and boxes had been crowded. And the distinction which in Mayfair and Belgravia attaches to those who have been in the boxes and stalls on Parthenon first night is not greater than that which, in Bloomsbury and Camden Town, accrues to those who have occupied places--not necessarily seats--in the other parts of the house. It is understood, too, that the good will of Bloomsbury and Camden Town is much more valuable to a play than the best wishes of Mayfair and Belgravia.

The gracious manager had made his customary speech of thanks,--for everything produced at the Parthenon was a success,--and while the general audience were moving away very reluctantly, some distinguished men and women followed the guidance of a strong Irish brogue as a flock follows a bell-wether, through a door that led to the stage.

Here the great actor and the ever-charming lady who divided with him the affections of West as well as East, received their guests' congratulations in such a way as made the guests feel that the success was wholly due to their good will.

Mrs. Linton, who was a personage in society,--her husband had found a gold mine (with the assistance of Herbert Courtland) and she had herself written a book of travels which did not sell,--had brought Phyllis with her party to the theater, and they had gone on the stage with the other notabilities, at the conclusion of the performance.

George Holland, having become as great a celebrity as the best of them during that previous fortnight, had naturally received a stall and an invitation to the stage at the conclusion of the performance. He had not been of Mrs. Linton's party, but he lay in wait for that party as they emerged from their box.

Another man also lay in wait for them, and people--outsiders--nudged one another in the theater as the passers down Piccadilly had nudged one another, whispering his name, Herbert Courtland. Others--they were not quite such outsiders--nudged one another when Mrs. Linton laid down her new feather fan on the ledge of the box. It was possibly the loveliest thing that existed in the world at that moment. No artist had ever dreamed of so wonderful a scheme of color--such miracles of color--combinations in every feather from the quill to the spider-web-like fluffs at the tips, each of which shone not like gold but like glass. It was well worth all the nudging that it called forth.

But when Mrs. Linton had picked it up from the ledge, beginning to oscillate it in front of her fair face, the nudging ceased. People looked at the thing with eyes wide with astonishment, but with lips mute.

A more satisfactory evening she had never spent, Mrs. Linton felt; and now the fan was hanging down among the brocaded flowers of her dress, ****** them look tawdry as she left the box, and noticed how at least two men were lying in wait for her party. There was, however, a frankness in Herbert Courtland's strategy which George Holland's did not possess. Mr. Courtland was looking directly at her; Mr. Holland was pretending to be engrossed in conversation with a man in one of the end stalls.

She lifted a finger and Courtland went to her side. The difficulties of the jungle along the banks of the Fly River were trifling compared with the obstacles he had to overcome in obeying her.

"I had no idea that you would be here," she said.

"Where else should I be?" he said, in so low a tone as to be heard only by her.

"We are so glad," said Mrs. Linton. "I want to present you to my dearest friend, Phyllis Ayrton."

"A woman!" said he.

"Not yet. She has never met a man. She will to-night," said Ella. Then she turned to Phyllis, who was walking beside Lord Earlscourt. "Come here, Phyllis," she said; "you are the only person in London who doesn't yet know Mr. Herbert Courtland. This is Mr. Courtland."

Thus it was that Phyllis went upon the stage of the Parthenon by the side of Herbert Courtland instead of by the side of George Holland; and the little laugh that Mrs. Linton gave was due to her careful observation of the latter's face when he perceived, as he did in spite of the engrossing nature of his conversation with his friend in the end stall, how his designs had been defeated by her tactics. She would not have minded having Herbert Courtland with her for the hour they might remain at the theater, but she had made up her mind that it was not to Phyllis' advantage that Mr. Holland should continue by her side in public after she had given him his dismissal.

She also perceived, with even greater gratification, that Herbert Courtland was looking nearly as dissatisfied with the result of her tactics as George Holland. If he had looked pleased at being by the side of Phyllis when he expected to be with her--Ella--what would life be worth to her?

But if he was dissatisfied at being with Phyllis instead of Mrs.

Linton, he did not consider that any reason for neglecting the former.

He wondered if she had any choice in sandwiches--of course she had in champagne. His curiosity was satisfied, and Phyllis was amply provided for.

"You are Mrs. Linton's dearest friend," he remarked casually, as they leaned up against the profile of the Church scene in "Cagliostro," for they were standing in the "wings"--to be exact--on the O. P. side.

"She is my dearest friend, at any rate," said Phyllis.

"You were not at school together. She is four or five years older than you."

"Only three. When she got married she seemed to me to be almost venerable. Three years seemed a long time then."

同类推荐
  • 曲洧旧闻

    曲洧旧闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 无幻禅师语录

    无幻禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说法华三昧经

    佛说法华三昧经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 普遍智藏般若波罗蜜多心经

    普遍智藏般若波罗蜜多心经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 喉科指掌

    喉科指掌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 玩转微时代

    玩转微时代

    本书是对于微时代如何淘金的一个系统的梳理,目前市面上唯一一本对于微博和微信详细解读的书,针对个人和企业微营销方面都有一定的涉及。其中提到了如何在个人微博、企业微博、个人微信和企业微信中淘金,适合微博、微信运营入门者阅读,也适合企业老总和营销从业者阅读。这本书是微博、微信方案落地的典型书籍,同时,个人要想在微时代淘金,也可以找到相关的章节,有的放矢地进行微博和微信营销,玩转微时代。
  • 大佬她自带锦鲤

    大佬她自带锦鲤

    简介:九栀知道自家系统是个智障,不然不会胡诌说她失忆了。既然签订了契约,九栀想做任务就做任务吧,反正也没做过,试试吧。可是要她保护幸运儿是什么鬼?还幸运儿,这分明是个粘人鬼!九栀警惕道:“我只是来保护你的,你别动手动脚的!”用锤子????砸死你信不信。她的手已经伸向了那银色的小锤子,随时准备给少年一锤子。“嘤嘤嘤,师傅你不要徒儿了吗?”幸运儿乖巧可怜道。九栀无辜状:“我没有”你这是诬陷你知道吗?我明明那么努力的在做任务。幸运儿狡黠一笑:“那师傅抱抱徒儿。”九栀:“……”你怕是想和锤子????来个亲密接触!……『小姐姐~( ̄▽ ̄~)~,成为人生赢家,了解一下』
  • 贝格里斯与布洛克

    贝格里斯与布洛克

    卡俄斯大陆上的贝格里斯是一个国土面积小,面临着种种困难的国家。但生活在那里的夜影族刚毅、勇敢、尚武。国王年事已高,正在决定将王位传给自己的两个儿子之一。布洛克正是二王子。在帝国战争之后,布洛克决心锻炼自己,让自己有资格继承王位。于是就这样他踏上了冒险与成长之旅。但是我们的萌新小白王子该如何在帝国战争后的贝格里斯一展雄风呢?
  • 十八岁,爱无处不在

    十八岁,爱无处不在

    [花雨授权]十八岁的天空是灿烂的,十八岁的天空是永恒的。在多姿多彩却又带着奇迹魔术般的十八岁里,你们的天空是什么颜色的呢?我们的十八岁天空又是什么颜色的呢?让我们一同去感受十八岁的颜色,十八岁爱无处不在!
  • 我在那见过你

    我在那见过你

    在哪魂牵梦绕的地方始终有让我牵挂的痕迹,可那是什么。
  • 带着Siri闯位面

    带着Siri闯位面

    4S店销售经理被传送到了另一片大陆,文明缺失,刀光剑影,仙人斗法。还好,有系统。“检测到破天五斩与地球上出现的日月乾坤刀、昆仑玄月刀等七十本刀法相似,已取长补短进行融合。”“检测到九曲黄河步与地球上出现的神行百步、八卦步等三十四种步法相似,已取长补短进行融合。”......面对这些精妙的招式,海星人都懵懂了
  • 偷吃一口糖

    偷吃一口糖

    “诶诶,听说了没?咱学校要来转校生。”“听了听了,听说她长得巨丑?是不是?”“……”此时正在被大家议论的转校生是被个“碰瓷”的讹上了?
  • 从你的世界走过

    从你的世界走过

    是韶华太过喧哗,抑或红尘太过嘈杂,似乎总有千万种理由与爱情擦肩而过。是让桃花开满枝头,抑或蔷薇爬满花架,似乎总有无数个借口任思念漫过天涯。林颦颦与赵方明之间的距离也是这样的春天与秋天。他们邂逅,两个人在上海相知相恋。他给过她全世界,亦摧毁了她的全世界。她带着全世界回来,他又携着全世界离开。他与她之间,分离难道是命中注定的?这段美好又悲伤的过去,绚烂又残忍的往昔,多少年后,依旧被人记忆起。
  • 枪火孤岛

    枪火孤岛

    进可搅风起云涌,退可装傻白甜萌!钢铁直男李长歌在全球半决赛惨遭背叛,重生归来他将再登巅峰!热血、欢笑、泪水、拼搏,这就是青春!
  • 武神叶烨与最强武圣系统

    武神叶烨与最强武圣系统

    天玄之界,实力为尊,武神叶烨,得一功法名为帝决,却遭众神之围攻,不幸陨落