"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 288 - Merry Mrs.MacBeth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"Now if something should eliminate Harthorne," observed Thurland, "the show wouldn't have to be
junked. If I bought the Half Moon Theatre, something which I've contemplated, I could make a deal to
help the other backers. I suppose they're all deserving chaps like Guylan, the playwright."

Knowing just what Thurland's deals were like, Dundee didn't have to agree that Guylan was deserving.
Terry watched Thurland wad another sheet of paper for the waste basket in preparation for another
series of notations.

"Equity would take care of the actor situation," reminded Dundee. "There's some good people in the cast,
Zachary Verne for instance."

"A fine chap, Verne," nodded Thurland. "There's always an opening for him in any of my revivals. Of
course they don't pay the money they did when they were fresh. We had a few heart-to-heart discussions
on that subject, Zach and I.

"This ghost part suits Zach nicely, so we'll keep him there. I'm thinking of someone else, though, who has
a longer future. If Harthorne should drop out for any reason, I imagine Joy Trevose would be too grieved
to stay. That would leave Vera Scharn."

Dundee gave an eager nod.

"I could really do a job for Vera--"

"Better talk to her then," interposed Thurland. "There are a lot of ways Vera could help. Yes, I might say
that the fate of this show is in her hands, like--well, for instance--"Like the dagger she lugs around." put in
Dundee.

"An excellent analogy, Terry. Now of course there are other persons who must not be forgotten."
"Like Alan Fenway--"

"We've placed Alan. He goes with Joy Trevose. I'm thinking how Ossie Bodelle might come in--"

"Or go out," added Dundee with a chuckle. "He's done one promotion job and that's enough."

"More than enough, perhaps." Thurland spoke very dryly. "I think it would be best to let Ossie still have
his say, particularly as he may say too much."

Thurland took a final look at his notation and tossed the paper in the basket as he pulled the cord of the
desk lamp. The room went dark, except for dim wall brackets that flanked a curtained archway.
Stepping down from behind the desk, Thurland beckoned Dundee in that direction.

The archway led to Thurland's private bar, and very soon the clink of glasses was drowning the
low-toned conversation that passed between the producer and the stooge who styled himself a press
agent. Dundee was getting confidential instructions regarding coming negotiations with Vera Scharn.

Those clinking sounds reached the thick curtain that hid the screened entrance to the office. This time
when the drapery stirred, a vague figure stepped into the gloom of the darkened office.

Like a creature practiced in ghostly ways, the obscured figure reached the desk and dipped into the