merton of the movies-第49章

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At　times　when　they　waited　for　a　car　after　these　dissipations　he　suffered　a　not　unpleasant　alarm　at　sight　of　a　large…worded　advertisement　along　the　back　of　a　bench　on　which　they　would　sit。　〃You　furnish　the　Girl；　We　furnish　the　House；〃　screamed　the　bench　to　him　above　the　name　of　an　enterprising　tradesman　that　came　in　time　to　bite　itself　deeply　into　his　memory。

Of　course　it　would　be　absurd；　but　stranger　things；　he　thought；　had　happened。　He　wondered　if　the　girl　was　as　afraid　of　him　as　of　other　men。　She　seemed　not　to　be；　but　you　couldn't　tell　much　about　her。　She　had　kissed　him　one　day　with　a　strange　warmth　of　manner；　but　it　had　been　quite　publicly　in　the　presence　of　other　people。　When　he　left　her　at　her　door　now　it　was　after　the　least　sentimental　of　partings；　perhaps　a　shake　of　her　hard　little　hand；　or　perhaps　only　a　〃S'long　see　you　at　the　show…shop！〃

It　was　on　one　of　these　nights　that　she　first　invited　him　to　dine　with　the　Montague　family。　〃I　tried　last　night　to　get　you　on　the　telephone；〃　she　explained；　〃but　they　kept　giving　me　someone　else；　or　maybe　I　called　wrong。　Ain't　these　six…figured　Los　Angeles　telephone　numbers　the　limit？　When　you　call　208972　or　something；　it　sounds　like　paging　a　box…car。　I　was　going　to　ask　you　over。　Ma　had　cooked　a　lovely　mess　of　corned　beef　and　cabbage。　Anyway；　you　come　eat　with　us　to…morrow　night；　will　you？　She'll　have　something　else　cooked　up　that　will　stick　to　the　merry　old　slats。　You　can　come　home　with　me　when　we　get　in　from　work。〃

So　it　was　that　on　the　following　night　he　enjoyed　a　home　evening　with　the　Montagues。　Mrs。　Montague　had　indeed　cooked　up　something　else；　and　had　done　it　well；　while　Mr。　Montague　offered　at　the　sideboard　a　choice　of　amateur　distillations　and　brews　which　he　warmly　recommended　to　the　guest。　While　the　guest　timidly　considered；　having　had　but　the　slightest　experience　with　intoxicants；　it　developed　that　the　confidence　placed　in　his　product　by　the　hospitable　old　craftsman　was　not　shared　by　his　daughter。

〃Keep　off　it；〃　she　warned；　and　then　to　her　father；　〃Say；　listen；　Pa；　have　a　heart；　that　boy's　got　to　work　to…morrow。〃　〃So　be　it；　my　child；〃　replied　Mr。　Montague　with　a　visible　stiffening　of　manner。　〃Sylvester　Montague　is　not　the　man　to　urge　strong　drink　upon　the　reluctant　or　the　over…cautious。　I　shall　drink　my　aperatif　alone。〃

〃Go　to　it；　old　Pippin；〃　rejoined　his　daughter　as　she　vanished　to　the　kitchen。

〃Still；　a　little　dish　of　liquor　at　this　hour；〃　continued　the　host　suggestively　when　they　were　alone。

〃Well〃Merton　wished　the　girl　had　stayed〃perhaps　just　a　few　drops。〃

〃Precisely；　my　boy；　precisely。　A　mere　dram。〃　He　poured　the　mere　dram　and　his　guest　drank。　It　was　a　colourless；　fiery　stuff　with　an　elusive　taste　of　metal。　Merton　contrived　an　expression　of　pleasure　under　the　searching　glance　of　his　host。　〃Ah；　I　knew　you　would　relish　it。　I　fancy　I　could　amaze　you　if　I　told　you　how　recently　it　was　made。　Now　here〃He　grasped　another　bottle　purposely〃is　something　a　full　ten　days　older。　It　has　developed　quite　a　bouquet。　Just　a　drop〃

The　guest　graciously　yet　firmly　waved　a　negation。

〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　want　to　enjoy　the　lastitit　has　so　much　flavour。〃

〃It　has；　it　has；　indeed。　I'll　not　urge　you；　of　course。　Later　you　must　see　the　simple　mechanism　by　which　I　work　these　wonders。　Alone；　then；　I　drink　to　you。〃

Mr。　Montague　alone　drank　of　two　other　fruits　of　his　loom　before　the　ladies　appeared　with　dinner。　He　was　cleanshaven　now　and　his　fine　face　glowed　with　hospitality　as　he　carved　roast　chickens。　The　talk　was　of　the　shop：　of　what　Mr。　Montague　scornfully　called　〃grind　shows〃　when　his　daughter　led　it；　and　of　the　legitimate　hall…show　when　he　gained　the　leadership。　He　believed　that　moving　pictures　had　sounded　the　knell　of　true　dramatic　art　and　said　so　in　many　ways。

He　tried　to　imagine　the　sensations　of　Lawrence　Barrett　or　Louis　James　could　they　behold　Sylvester　Montague；　whom　both　these　gentlemen　had　proclaimed　to　be　no　mean　artist；　enacting　the　role　of　a　bar…room　rowdy　five　days　on　end　by　reclining　upon　a　sawdust　floor　with　his　back　supported　by　a　spirits　barrel。　The　supposititious　comments　of　the　two　placed　upon　the　motion…picture　industry　the　black　guilt　of　having　degraded　a　sterling　artist　to　the　level　of　a　peep…show　mountebank。　They　were　frankly　disgusted　at　the　spectacle；　and　their　present　spokesman　thought　it　as　well　that　they　had　not　actually　lived　to　witness　iteven　the　happier　phases　of　this　so…　called　art　in　which　a　mere　chit　of　a　girl　might　earn　a　living　wage　by　falling　downstairs　for　a　so…called　star；　or　the　he…doll　whippersnapperMerton　Gill　flinched　in　spite　of　himselfcould　name　his　own　salary　for　merely　possessing　a　dimpled　chin。

Further；　an　artist　in　the　so…called　art　received　his　payment　as　if　he　had　delivered　groceries　at　one's　back　door。　〃You；　I　believe〃　The　speaker　addressed　his　guest〃are　at　present　upon　a　pay…roll；　but　there　are　others；　your　elders…possibly　your　betters；　though　I　do　not　say　that〃

〃You　better　not；〃　remarked　his　daughter；　only　to　be　ignored。

〃others　who　must　work　a　day　and　at　the　close　of　it　receive　a　slip　of　paper　emblazoned　'Talent　Pay　Check。'　How　more　effectively　could　they　cheapen　the　good　word　'talent'？　And　at　the　foot　of　this　slip　you　are　made　to　sign；　before　receiving　the　pittance　you　have　earned；　a　consent　to　the　public　exhibition　for　the　purpose　of　trade　or　advertising；　of　the　pictures　for　which　you　may　have　posed。　Could　tradesmen　descend　to　a　lower　level；　I　ask　you？〃

〃I'll　have　one　for　twelve　fifty　to…morrow　night；〃　said　Mrs。　Montague；　not　too　dismally。　〃I　got　to　do　a　duchess　at　a　reception；　and　I　certainly　hope　my　feet　don't　hurt　me　again。〃

〃Cheer　up；　old　dears！　Pretty　soon　you　can　both　pick　your　parts；〃　chirped　their　daughter。　〃Jeff's　going　to　give　me　a　contract；　and　then　you　can　loaf　forever　for　all　I　care。　Only　I　know　you　won't；　and　you　know　you　won't。　Both　of　you'd　act　for　nothing　if　you　couldn't　do　it　for　money。　What's　the　use　of　pretending？〃

〃The　chit　may　be　right；　she　may　be　right；〃　conceded　Mr。　Montague　sadly。

Later；　while　the　ladies　were　again　in　the　kitchen；　Mr。　Montague；　after　suggesting；　〃Something　in　the　nature　of　an　after…dinner　cordial；〃　quaffed　one　for　himself　and　followed　it　with　the　one　he　had　poured　out　for　a　declining　guest　who　still　treasured　the　flavour　of　his　one　aperitif。

He　then　led　the　way　to　the　small　parlour　where　he　placed　in　action　on　the　phonograph　a　record　said　to　contain　the　ravings　of　John　McCullough　in　his　last　hours。　He　listened　to　this　emotionally。

〃That's　the　sort　of　technique；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　socalled　silver　screen　has　made　but　a　memory。〃　He　lighted　his　pipe；　and　identified　various　framed　photographs　that　enlivened　the　walls　of　the　little　room。　Many　of　them　were　of　himself　at　an　earlier　age。

〃My　dear　mother…in…law；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　another。　〃A　sterling　artist；　and　in　her　time　an　ornament　of　the　speaking　stage。　I　was　on　tour　when　her　last　days　came。　She　idolized　me；　and　passed　away　with　my　name　on　her　lips。　Her　last　request　was　that　a　photograph　of　me　should　be　placed　in　her　casket　before　it　went　to　its　final　resting　place。〃

He　paused；　his　emotion　threatening　to　overcome　him。　Presently　he　brushed　a　hand　across　his　eyes　and　continued；　〃I　discovered　later　that　they　had　picked　out　the　most　wretched　of　all　my　photographsan　atrocious　thing　I　had　supposed　was　destroyed。　Can　you　imagine　it？〃

Apparently　it　was　but　the　entrance　of　his　daughter　that　saved　him　from　an　affecting　collapse。　His　daughter　removed　the　record　of　John　McCullough's　ravings；　sniffed　at　it；　and　put　a　fox…trot　in　its　place。

〃He's　got　to　learn　to　dance；〃　she　explained；　laying　hands　upon　the　guest。

〃Dancingdancing！〃　murmured　Mr。　Montague；　as　if　the　very　word　recalled　bitter　memories。

With　brimming　eyes　he　sat　beating　time　to　the　fox…trot　measure　while　Merton　Gill　proved　to　all　observers　that　his　mastery　of　this　dance　would；　if　ever　at　all　achieved；　be　only　after　long　and　discouraging　effort。

〃You　forget　all　about　your　feet；〃　remarked　the　girl　as　they　paused；　swaying　to　the　rhythm。　〃Remember　the　feetthey're　important　in　a　dance。　Now！〃　But　it　was　hard　to　remember　his　feet　or；　when　he　did　recall　them；　to　relate　their　movements　even　distantly　to　the　music。　When　this　had　died　despairingly；　the　girl　surveyed　her　pupil　with　friendly　but　doubting　eyes。

〃Say；　Pa；　don't　he　remind　you　of　someone？　Remember　the　squirrel　that　joined　out　with　us　one　time　in　the　rep　show　and　left　'East　Lynne'　flat　right　in　the　middle　of　the　third　act　while　he　went　down　and　announced　the　next　night's　playthe　one　that　his　name　was　Eddie　Duffy　and　he　called　himself　Clyde　Maltravers？〃

〃In　a　way；　in　a　way；〃　agreed　Mr。　Montague　dismally。　〃A　certain　lack　of　finish　in　the　manner；　perhaps。〃

〃Remember　how　Charlie　Dickman；　the　manager；　nearly　murdered　him　for　it　in　the　wings？　Not　that　Charlie　didn't　have　a　right　to。　Well；　this　boy　dances　like　Eddie　Duffy　would　have　danced。〃

〃He　was　undeniably　awkward　and　forgetful；〃　said　Mr。　Montague。　〃Well　do　I　recall　a　later　night。　We　played　Under　the　Gaslight；　Charlie　feared　to　trust　him　with　a　part；　so　he　kept　the　young　man　off　stage　to　help　with　the　train　noise　when　the　down　express　should　dash　across。　But　even　in　this　humble　station　he　proved　inefficient。　When　the　train　came　on　he　became　confused；　seized　the　cocoanut　shells　instead　of　the　sand…paper；　and　our　train　that　night　entered　to　the　sound　of　a　galloping　horse。　The　effect　must　have　been　puzzling　to　the　audience。　Indeed；　many　of　them　seemed　to　consider　it　ludicrous。　Charlie　Dickman　confided　in　me　later。　'Syl；　my　boy；'　says　he；　'this　bird　Duffy　has　caused　my　first　gray　hairs。'　It　was　little　wonder　that　he　persuaded　young　Duffy　to　abandon　the　drama。　He　was　not　meant　for　the　higher　planes　of　our　art。　Now　our　young　friend　here〃he　pointed　to　the　perspiring　Merton　Gill〃doesn't　even　seem　able　to　master　a　simple　dance　step。　I　might　say　that　he　seems　to　out…Duffy　Duffyfor　Duffy　could　dance　after　a　fashion。〃

〃He'll　make　the　grade　yet；〃　replied　his　daughter　grimly；　and　again　the　music　sounded。　Merton　Gill　continued　unconscious　of　his　feet；　or；　remembering　them；　he　became　deaf　to　the　music。　But　the　girl　brightened　with　a　sudden　thought　when　next　they　rested。

〃I　got　it！〃　she　announced。　〃We'll　have　about　two　hundred　feet　of　this　for　the　next　pictureyou　trying　to　dance　just　the　way　you　been　doing　with　me。　If　you　don't　close　to　a　good　hand　I'll　eat　my　last　pay…check。〃

The　lessons　ceased。　She　seemed　no　longer　to　think　it　desirable　that　her　pupil　should　become　proficient　in　the　modern　steps。　He　was　puzzled　by　her　decision。　Why　should　one　of　Baird's　serious　plays　need　an　actor　who　forgot　his　feet　in　a　dance？

There　were　more　social　evenings　at　the　Montague　home。　Twice　the　gathering　was　enlarged　by　other　members　of　the　film　colony；　a　supper　was　served　and　poker　played　for　inconsiderable　stakes。　In　this　game　of　chance　the　Montague　girl　proved　to　be　conservative；　not　to　say　miserly；　and　was　made　to　suffer　genuinely　when　Merton　Gill　displayed　a　reckless　spirit　in　the　betting。　That　he　amassed　winnings　of　ninety…eight　cents　one　night　did　not　reassure　her。　She　pointed　out　that　he　might　easily　have　lost　this　sum。

She　was　indeed　being　a　mother　to　the　defenceless　boy。　It　was　after　a　gambling　session　that　she　demanded　to　be　told　wh