fb2 Lord John in New York - internet üzerinden indir

"The facts—as I've just heard from Julius Felborn—are these. Yesterday Odell sent forJulius, who went like a bird, for he and Odell are friends. Odell's money and influence put Juliuswhere he is now, as a manager, up at the top, though still young. What was Julius's horror,however, when Odell blurted out a warning not to produce any play dramatised from a book ofyours, because he—Odell—would do his best to ruin it! Julius asked what the dickens he meant.Odell wouldn't explain. All he'd say was, that he'd be sorry to hurt Julius and had nothing againstme, but The Key would get no chance in New York or any old town in the United States whereRoger Odell had a finger in the pie."Well, you must have heard enough about Odell to know what such a threat amounts to.There are mighty few pies he hasn't a finger in. Not that he's a man who threatens as a rule.He's made a good many men. I never heard of his breaking one. But when he decides to do athing, he does it. Julius is in a blue funk. He's not a coward, but even if he felt strong enough tofight Odell's newspapers and other influence, he says it would be an act of 'base ingratitude' to doso, as he'd be 'walking on his uppers' now but for Odell's help, tiding over rough places in thepast. Julius took all night to reflect, and rang me up this morning. I'm writing in his office at thetheatre now, after our interview. He says Odell would have put him wise before, but he saw thepars (in his own papers!) for the first time yesterday morning on the way back from the WestIndies, where he'd been on a short business trip. Queer place for such a man to go on a businesstrip! But the whole thing is dashed queer. Now he's off again like a whirlwind to England foranother 'short business trip,' so he told Julius. But J. let drop one little item of information abouta woman, or rather a girl. Can that be where you come in on this? Have you taken this girl away?Anyhow, whatever you've done, the consequences seem likely to be serious. Julius is inclined tocall a halt, bribe, wheedle or bluster the star into throwing up his part at the first rehearsal, byway of an excuse, and to put on Chumley Reed's Queen Sweetheart, which he kept up his sleevein case The Key failed. But, of course, it couldn't fail, unless it was burked. The whole cast waswild over The Key. Julius himself was wild, and is sick at having to turn it down. But Odell's toobig for him. And I guess O—— has offered to stand the racket for the loss of wasted scenery,which has been begun on an elaborate scale. (Think of the great casino act at Monte Carlo!)Unfortunately, I'm constituted so I can't help seeing both sides of the shield and putting myself inothers' places. I'm sorry for Julius. But I'm twenty times sorrier for Carr Price. For you, too, mydear fellow, of course. But I stand to lose more than you do on this deal.