merton of the movies-第53章

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And　still；　so　incredible　the　revealment；　he　had　not　in　the　first　shock　of　it　seemed　to　consider　Baird　in　any　way　to　blame。　Baird　had　somehow　been　deceived　by　his　actors。　Yet　a　startling　suspicion　was　forming　amid　his　mental　flurries；　a　suspicion　that　bloomed　to　certainty　when　he　saw　himself　the　ever…patient　victim　of　the　genuine　hidalgo　spurs。

Baird　had　said　he　wanted　the　close…ups　merely　for　use　in　determining　how　the　spurs　could　be　mastered；　yet　here　they　were。　Merton　Gill　caught　the　spurs　in　undergrowth　and　caught　them　in　his　own　chaps；　arising　from　each　fall　with　a　look　of　gentle　determination　that　appealed　strongly　to　the　throng　of　lackwits。　They　shrieked　at　each　of　his　failures；　even　when　he　ran　to　greet　his　pictured　sweetheart　and　fell　headlong。　They　found　the　comedy　almost　unbearable　when　at　Baird's　direction　he　had　begun　to　toe　in　as　he　walked。　And　he　had　fallen　clumsily　again　when　he　flew　to　that　last　glad　rendezvous　where　the　pair　were　irised　out　in　a　love　triumphant；　while　the　old　mother　mopped　a　large　rock　in　the　background。　An　intervening　close…　up　of　this　rock　revealed　her　tearful　face　as　she　cleansed　the　granite　surface。　Above　her　loomed　a　painted　exhortation　to　〃Use　Wizard　Spine　Pills。〃　And　of　this　pathetic　old　creature　he　was　made　to　say；　even　as　he　clasped　the　beloved　in　his　arms〃Remember；　she　is　my　mother。　I　will　not　desert　her　now　just　because　I　am　rich　and　grand！〃

At　last　he　was　free。　Amid　applause　that　was　long　and　sincere　he　gained　his　feet　and　pushed　a　way　out。　His　hoarse　neighbour　was　saying；　〃Who　is　the　kid；　anyway？　Ain't　he　a　wonder！〃

He　pulled　his　hat　down；　dreading　he　might　be　recognized　and　shamed　before　these　shallow　fools。　He　froze　with　the　horror　of　what　he　had　been　unable　to　look　away　from。　The　ignominy　of　it！　And　now；　after　those　spurs；　he　knew　full　well　that　Baird　had　betrayed　him。　As　the　words　shaped　in　his　mind；　a　monstrous　echo　of　them　reverberated　through　its　cavernsthe　Montague　girl　had　betrayed　him！

He　understood　her　now；　and　burned　with　memories　of　her　uneasiness　the　night　before。　She　had　been　suffering　acutely　from　remorse；　she　had　sought　to　cover　it　with　pleas　of　physical　illness。　At　the　moment　he　was　conscious　of　no　feeling　toward　her　save　wonder　that　she　could　so　coolly　have　played　him　false。　But　the　thing　was　not　to　be　questioned。　Sheand　Bairdhad　made　a　fool　of　him。

As　he　left　the　theatre；　the　crowd　about　him　commented　approvingly　on　the　picture：　〃Who's　this　new　comedian？〃　he　heard　a　voice　inquire。　But　〃Ain't　he　a　wonder！〃　seemed　to　be　the　sole　reply。

He　flushed　darkly。　So　they　thought　him　a　comedian。　Well；　Baird　wouldn't　think　sonot　after　to…morrow。　He　paused　outside　the　theatre　now　to　study　the　lithograph　in　colours。　There　he　hurled　Marcel　to　the　antlers　of　the　elk。　The　announcement　was　〃Hearts　on　Fire！　A　Jeff　Baird　Comedy。　Five　Reels…500　Laughs。〃

Baird；　he　sneeringly　reflected；　had　kept　faith　with　his　patrons　if　not　with　one　of　his　actors。　But　how　he　had　profaned　the　sunlit　glories　of　the　great　open　West　and　its　virile　drama！　And　the　spurs；　as　he　had　promised　the　unsuspecting　wearer；　had　stood　out！　The　horror　of　it；　blinding；　desolating！

And　he　had　as　good　as　stolen　that　money　himself；　taking　it　out　to　the　great　open　spaces　to　spend　in　a　bar…room。　Baird's　serious　effort　had　turned　out　to　be　a　wild；　inconsequent　farrago　of　the　most　painful　nonsense。

But　it　was　over　for　Merton　Gill。　The　golden　bowl　was　broken；　the　silver　cord　was　loosed。　To…morrow　he　would　tear　up　Baird's　contract　and　hurl　the　pieces　in　Baird's　face。　As　to　the　Montague　girl；　that　deceiving　jade　was　hopeless。　Never　again　could　he　trust　her。

In　a　whirling　daze　of　resentment　he　boarded　a　car　for　the　journey　home。　A　group　seated　near　him　still　laughed　about　Hearts　on　Fire。　〃I　thought　he'd　kill　me　with　those　spurs；〃　declared　an　otherwise　sanely　behaving　young　woman〃that　hurt；　embarrassed　look　on　his　face　every　time　he'd　get　up！〃

He　cowered　in　his　seat。　And　he　remembered　another　ordeal　he　must　probably　face　when　he　reached　home。　He　hoped　the　Pattersons　would　be　in　bed；　and　walked　up　and　down　before　the　gate　when　he　saw　the　house　still　alight。　But　the　light　stayed；　and　at　last　he　nerved　himself　for　a　possible　encounter。　He　let　himself　in　softly；　still　hoping　he　could　gain　his　room　undiscovered；　but　Mrs。　Patterson　framed　herself　in　the　lighted　door　of　the　living　room　and　became　exclamatory　at　sight　of　him。

And　he　who　had　thought　to　stand　before　these　people　in　shame　to　receive　their　condolences　now　perceived　that　his　trial　would　be　of　another　but　hardly　less…distressing　sort。　For　somehow；　so　dense　were　these　good　folks；　that　he　must　seem　to　be　not　displeased　with　his　own　performance。　Amazingly　they　congratulated　him；　struggling　with　reminiscent　laughter　as　they　did　so。

〃And　you　never　told　us　you　was　one　of　them　funny　comedians；〃　chided　Mrs。　Patterson。　〃We　thought　you　was　just　a　beginner；　and　here　you　got　the　biggest　part　in　the　picture！　Say；　the　way　you　acted　when　you'd　pick　yourself　up　after　them　spurs　threw　youI'll　wake　up　in　the　night　laughing　at　that。〃

〃And　the　way　he　kept　his　face　so　straight　when　them　other　funny　ones　was　cutting　their　capers　all　around　him；〃　observed　Mr。　Patterson。

〃Yes！　wasn't　it　wonderful；　Jed；　the　way　he　never　let　on；　keeping　his　face　as　serious　as　if　he'd　been　in　a　serious　play？〃

〃I　like　to　fell　off　my　seat；〃　added　Mr。　Patterson。

〃I'll　tell　you　something；　Mr。　Armytage；〃　began　Mrs。　Patterson　with　a　suddenly　serious　manner　of　her　own；　〃I　never　been　one　to　flatter　folks　to　their　faces　unless　I　felt　it　from　the　bottom　of　my　heartI　never　been　that　kind；　when　I　tell　a　person　such…and…such　about　themselves　they　can　take　it　for　the　truth's　own　truth；　so　you　can　believe　me　nowI　saw　lots　of　times　in　that　play　to…night　when　you　was　even　funnier　than　the　cross…eyed　man。〃

The　young　actor　was　regarding　her　strangely；　seemingly　he　wished　to　acknowledge　this　compliment　but　could　find　no　suitable　words。　〃Yes；　you　can　blush　and　hem　and　haw；〃　went　on　his　critic；　〃but　any　one　knows　me　I'll　tell　you　I　mean　it　when　I　talk　that　wayyes；　sir；　funnier　than　the　cross…eyed　man　himself。　My；　I　guess　the　neighbours'll　be　talking　soon's　they　find　out　we　got　someone　as　important　as　you　be　in　our　spare…roomand；　Mr。　Armytage；　I　want　you　to　give　me　a　signed　photograph　of　yourself；　if　you'll　be　so　good。〃

He　escaped　at　last；　dizzy　from　the　maelstrom　of　conflicting　emotions　that　had　caught　and　whirled　him。　It　had　been　impossible　not　to　appear；　and　somehow　difficult　not　to　feel；　gratified　under　this　heartfelt　praise。　He　had　been　bound　to　appear　pleased　but　incredulous；　even　when　she　pronounced　him　superior；　at　times；　to　the　cross…eyed　manthough　the　word　she　used　was　〃funnier。〃

Betrayed　by　his　friends；　stricken；　disconsolate；　in　a　panic　of　despair；　he　had　yet　seemed　glad　to　hear　that　he　had　been　〃funny。〃　He　flew　to　the　sanctity　of　his　room。　Not　again　could　he　bear　to　be　told　that　the　acting　which　had　been　his　soul's　high　vision　was　a　thing　for　merriment。

He　paced　his　room　a　long　time；　a　restless；　defenceless　victim　to　recurrent　visions　of　his　shame。　Implacably　they　returned　to　torture　him。　Reel　after　reel　of　the　ignoble　stuff；　spawned　by　the　miscreant；　Baird；　flashed　before　him；　a　world　of　base　painted　shadows　in　which　he　had　been　the　arch　offender。

Again　and　again　he　tried　to　make　clear　to　himself　just　why　his　own　acting　should　have　caused　mirth。　Surely　he　had　been　serious；　he　had　given　the　best　that　was　in　him。

And　the　groundlings　had　guffawed！

Perhaps　it　was　a　puzzle　he　could　never　solve。　And　now　he　first　thought　of　the　new　piece。

This　threw　him　into　fresh　panic。　What　awful　things；　with　his　high　and　serious　acting；　would　he　have　been　made　to　do　in　that？　Patiently；　one　by　one；　he　went　over　the　scenes　in　which　he　had　appeared。　Dazed；　confused；　his　recollection　could　bring　to　him　little　that　was　ambiguous　in　them。　But　also　he　had　played　through　Hearts　on　Fire　with　little　suspicion　of　its　low　intentions。

He　went　to　bed　at　last；　though　to　toss　another　hour　in　fruitless　effort　to　solve　this　puzzle　and　to　free　his　eyes　of　those　flashing　infamies　of　the　night。　Ever　and　again　as　he　seemed　to　become　composed；　free　at　last　of　tormenting　visions；　a　mere　subtitle　would　flash　in　his　brain；　as　where　the　old　mother；　when　he　first　punished　her　insulter；　was　made　by　the　screen　to　call　out；　〃Kick　him　on　the　knee…cap；　too！〃

But　the　darkness　refreshed　his　tired　eyes；　and　sun　at　last　brought　him　a　merciful　outlet　from　a　world　in　which　you　could　act　your　best　and　still　be　funnier　than　a　cross…eyed　man。

He　awakened　long　past　his　usual　hour　and　occupied　his　first　conscious　moments　in　convincing　himself　that　the　scandal　of　the　night　before　had　not　been　a　bad　dream。　The　shock　was　a　little　dulled　now。　He　began　absurdly　to　remember　the　comments　of　those　who　had　appeared　to　enjoy　the　unworthy　entertainment。　Undoubtedly　many　people　had　mentioned　him　with　warm　approval。　But　such　praise　was　surely　nothing　to　take　comfort　from。　He　was　aroused　from　this　retrospection　by　a　knock　on　his　door。　It　proved　to　be　Mr。　Patterson　bearing　a　tray。　〃Mrs。　P。　thought　that　you　being　up　so　late　last　night　mebbe　would　like　a　cup　of　coffee　and　a　bite　of　something　before　you　went　out。〃　The　man's　manner　was　newly　respectful。　In　this　house；　at　least；　Merton　Gill　was　still　someone。

He　thanked　his　host；　and　consumed　the　coffee　and　toast　with　a　novel　sense　of　importance。　The　courtesy　was　unprecedented。　Mrs。　Patterson　had　indeed　been　sincere。　And　scarcely　had　he　finished　dressing　when　Mr。　Patterson　was　again　at　the　door。

〃A　gentleman　downstairs　to　see　you；　Mr。　Armytage。　〃He　says　his　name　is　Walberg　but　you　don't　know　him。　He　says　it's　a　business　matter。〃

〃Very　well；　I'll　be　down。〃　A　business　matter？　He　had　no　business　matters　with　any　one　except　Baird。

He　was　smitten　with　a　quick　and　quite　illogical　fear。　Perhaps　he　would　not　have　to　tear　up　that　contract　and　hurl　it　in　the　face　of　the　manager　who　had　betrayed　him。　Perhaps　the　manager　himself　would　do　the　tearing。　Perhaps　Baird；　after　seeing　the　picture；　had　decided　that　Merton　Gill　would　not　do。　Instantly　he　felt　resentful。　Hadn't　he　given　the　best　that　was　in　him？　Was　it　his　fault　if　other　actors　had　turned　into　farce　one　of　the　worth…while　things？

He　went　to　meet　Mr。　Walberg　with　this　resentment　so　warm　that　his　greeting　of　the　strange　gentleman　was　gruff　and　short。　The　caller；　an　alert；　businesslike　man；　came　at　once　to　his　point。　He　was；　it　proved；　not　the　representative　of　a　possibly　repenting　Baird。　He　was；　on　the　contrary；　representing　a　rival　producer。　He　extended　his　cardThe　Bigart　Comedies。

〃I　got　your　address　from　the　Holden　office；　Mr。　Armytage。　I　guess　I　routed　you　out　of　bed；　eh？　Well；　it's　like　this；　if　yon　ain't　sewed　up　with　Baird　yet；　the　Bigart　people　would　like　to　talk　a　little　business　to　you。　How　about　it？〃

〃Business？〃　Mr。　Armytage　fairly　exploded　this。　He　was　unhappy　and　puzzled；　in　consequence；　unamiable。

〃Sure；　business；〃　confirmed　Mr。　Walberg。　〃I　understand　you　just　finished　another　five…reeler　for　the　Buckeye　outfit；　but　how　about　some　stuff　for　us　now？　We　can　give　you　as　good　a　company　as　that　one　last　night　and　a　good　line　of　comedy。　We　got　a　gag　man　that　simply　never　gets　to　the　end　of　his　string。　He's　doping　out　someth