merton of the movies-第24章
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Ladies and gentlemen in evening dress were already entering。 They looked inquiringly about and chose tables。 Those next to the dancing space were quickly filled。 Many of the ladies permitted costly wraps of fur or brocade to spill across the backs of their chairs。 Many of the gentlemen lighted cigarettes from gleaming metal cases。 There was a lively interchange of talk。
〃We better light up； too；〃 said the dark girl。 Merton Gill had neglected cigarettes and confessed this with some embarrassment。 The girl presented an open case of gold attached to a chain pendent from her girdle。 They both smoked。 On their table were small plates； two wine glasses half filled with a pale liquid； and small coffee…cups。 Spirals of smoke ascended over a finished repast。 Of course if the part called for cigarettes you must smoke whether you had quit or not。
The places back of the prized first row were now filling up with the later comers。 One of these； a masterful…looking man of middle age he would surely be a wealthy club…man accustomed to command tables regarded the filled row around the dancing space with frank irritation； and paused significantly at Merton's side。 He seemed about to voice a demand； but the young actor glanced slowly up at him； achieving a superb transitionsurprise； annoyance； and； as the invader turned quickly away； pitying contempt。
〃Atta boy！〃 said his companion； who was； with the aid of a tiny gold…backed mirror suspended with the cigarette case； heightening the crimson of her full lips。
Two cameras were now in view； and men were sighting through them。 Merton saw Henshaw； plump but worried looking； scan the scene from the rear。 He gave hurried direction to an assistant who came down the line of tables with a running glance at their occupants。 He made changes。 A couple here and a couple there would be moved from the first row and other couples would come to take their places。 Under the eyes of this assistant the Spanish girl had become coquettish。 With veiled glances； with flashing smiles from the red lips； with a small gloved hand upon Merton Gill's sleeve； she allured him。 The assistant paused before them。 The Spanish girl continued to allure。 Merton Gill stared moodily at the half…empty wine glass； then exhaled smoke as he glanced up at his companion in profound ennui。 If it was The Blight of Broadway probably they would want him to look bored。
〃You two stay where you are；〃 said the assistant； and passed on。
〃Good work；〃 said the girl。 〃I knew you was a type the minute I made you。〃
Red…coated musicians entered an orchestra loft far down the set。 The voice of Henshaw came through a megaphone： 〃Everybody that's near the floor fox…trot。〃 In a moment the space was thronged with dancers。 Another voice called 〃Kick it！〃 and a glare of light came on。
〃You an' me both！〃 said the Spanish girl； rising。
Merton Gill remained seated。 〃Can't；〃 he said。 〃Sprained ankle。〃 How was he to tell her that there had been no chance to learn this dance back in Simsbury； Illinois； where such things were frowned upon by pulpit and press？ The girl resumed her seat； at first with annoyance； then brightened。 〃All right at that；〃 she said。 〃I bet we get more footage this way。〃 She again became coquettish； luring with her wiles one who remained sunk in ennui。
A whistle blew； a voice called 〃Save it！〃 and the lights jarred off。 Henshaw came trippingly down the line。 〃You people didn't dance。 What's the matter？〃 Merton Gill glanced up； doing a double transition； from dignified surprise to smiling chagrin。 〃Sprained ankle；〃 he said； and fell into the bored look that had served him with the assistant。 He exhaled smoke and raised his tired eyes to the still luring Spanish girl。 Weariness of the world and women was in his look。 Henshaw scanned him closely。
〃All right； stay therekeep just that wayit's what I want。〃 He continued down the line； which had become hushed。 〃Now； people。 I want some flashes along here； between dancessee what I mean？ You're talking； but you're bored with it all。 The hollowness of this night life is getting you； not all of youmost of you girls can keep on smilingbut The Blight of Broadway shows on many。 You're beginning to wonder if this is all life has to offersee what I mean？〃 He continued down the line。
From the table back of Merton Gill came a voice in speech to the retreating back of Henshaw： 〃All right； old top； but it'll take a good lens to catch any blight on this bunchmost of 'em haven't worked a lick in six weeks； and they're tickled pink。〃 He knew without turning that this was the Montague girl trying to be funny at the expense of Henshaw who was safely beyond hearing。 He thought she would be a disturbing element in the scene； but in this he was wrong； for he bent upon the wine glass a look more than ever fraught with jaded world…weariness。 The babble of Broadway was resumed as Henshaw went back to the cameras。
Presently a camera was pushed forward。 Merton Gill hardly dared look up； but he knew it was halted at no great distance from him。 〃Now； here's rather a good little bit；〃 Henshaw was saying。 〃You； there； the girl in black； go ontease him the way you were； and he's to give you that same look。 Got that cigarette going？ All ready。 Lights！ Camera！〃 Merton was achieving his first close…up。 Under the hum of the lights he was thinking that he had been a fool not to learn dancing； no matter how the Reverend Otto Carmichael denounced it as a survival from the barbaric Congo。 He was also thinking that the Montague girl ought to be kept away from people who were trying to do really creative things； and he was bitterly regretting that he had no silver cigarette case。 The gloom of his young face was honest gloom。 He was aware that his companion leaned vivaciously toward him with gay chatter and gestures。 Very slowly he inhaled from a cigarette that was already distastefuladding no little to the desired effectand very slowly he exhaled as he raised to hers the bored eyes of a soul quite disillusioned。 Here； indeed； was the blight of Broadway。
〃All right； first rate！〃 called Henshaw。 〃Now get this bunch down here。〃 The camera was pushed on。
〃Gee； that was luck！〃 said the girl。 〃Of course it'll be cut to a flash； but I bet we stand out； at that。〃 She was excited now； no longer needing to act。
From the table back of Merton came the voice of the Montague girl： 〃Yes； one must suffer for one's art。 Here I got to be a baby…vamp when I'd rather be simple little Madelon； beloved by all in the village。〃
He restrained an impulse to look around at her。 She was not serious and should not be encouraged。 Farther down the set Henshaw was beseeching a table of six revellers to give him a little hollow gayety。 〃You're simply forcing yourselves to have a good time；〃 he was saying； 〃remember that。 Your hearts aren't in it。 You know this night life is a mockery。 Still； you're playing the game。 Now； two of you raise your glasses to drink。 You at the end stand up and hold your glass aloft。 The girl next to you there； stand up by him and raise your face to histurn sideways more。 That's it。 Put your hand up to his shoulder。 You're slightly lit； you know； and you're inviting him to kiss you over his glass。 You others； you're drinking gay enough； but see if you can get over that it's only half…hearted。 You at the other end thereyou're staring at your wine glass； then you look slowly up at your partner but without any life。 You're feeling the blight； see？ A chap down the line here just did it perfectly。 All ready； now！ Lights！ Camera！ You blonde girl； stand up； face raised to him； hand up to his shoulder。 You others； drinking； laughing。 You at the end； look up slowly at the girl； look awayabout therebored； weary of it allcut！ All right。 Not so bad。 Now this next bunch； Paul。〃
Merton Gill was beginning to loathe cigarettes。 He wondered if Mr。 Henshaw would mind if he didn't smoke so much； except； of course； in the close…ups。 His throat was dry and rough； his voice husky。 His companion had evidently played more smoking parts and seemed not to mind it。
Henshaw was now opposite them across the dancing floor； warning his people to be gay but not too gay。 The glamour of this night life must be a little dulled。
〃No
