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

"He liked the cauldron scene," returned Bodelle. "It made him think of bubble gum. That right, Guylan?"

Guylan gave a feeble smile that Alan didn't share. For all his frills, the Romeo boy was pugnacious.

"Why lie about it, Bodelle?" Alan's fist was acquiring an itch. "Harthorne would have backed any show
that included Joy Trevose in the package. Where is Joy right now when she ought to be here for
rehearsal?"

"Out with Harthorne, I suppose," returned Bodelle. "She always is."

"And always is the word," retorted Alan. "From the moment Harthorne gave Joy the glad eye at the
summer theater where she and I were playing stock, you did your best to fix them up with a beautiful
friendship!"

"Why not, since a show went with it?"

"A show!" Alan accompanied his sneer with a disdainful look at Guylan. "This farce still lacks imagination.
Why don't you put in Harthorne as King Lear so he can ogle at Lady Macbeth?"

"Not bad," remarked Bodelle. "Make a note of it, Guylan."

"And we'll write you in for a Cupids costume," Alan turned to Bodelle. "So you can go shooting arrows
at Harthorne. Real ones, with poison tips, and let's hope you don't miss."

"Easy, now."

There was belligerence in Bodelle's glare as he rose from seat D-3 and matched his bulk against the lithe
figure of Romeo. But a difference of some fifty pounds didn't phase young Alan.

"You've said a few things about Harthorne yourself," reminded Alan, "such as wishing he'd break that
long neck of his when he stretches it for a look at the chorus line when they're coming downstairs to
rehearse."

Alan's indignation brought an indulgent laugh from Bodelle. There was something subtle about Ossie,
though his style was elephantine. At Alan's words, Bodelle turned and nodded knowingly as he glanced
toward the three tiers of dressing rooms off to the right of the stage.

"You win, kid," said Bodelle. "If I'd known how you felt about Joy, I wouldn't have promoted Harthorne.
Only it's too late now."

"And why?" demanded Alan. "Joy isn't suited to the part. She doesn't belong in this show. Ask Guylan."

There wasn't time to ask Guylan. The playwright was beginning to hem and haw the moment his name
was mentioned. That brought more contempt from Alan.

"Don't ask him," sneered the loquacious Romeo. "He's afraid of offending Harthorne. But here's a man
who can give an honest opinion"--Alan was swinging to Dundee--"and he'll tell you that Vera Scharn is
the right bet for Lady Macbeth."

Dundee gave one of his emphatic nods.