"Ивлин Во. Экскурсия в жизнь (engl) " - читать интересную книгу автора

language of every day life." Now Mr Lent here was the man whose name
naturally suggested itself. Many of the most high-class critics have
commended Mr Lent's dialogue. Now my idea is that Miss Grits here shall act
in an advisory capacity, helping with the continuity and the technical side,
and that Mr Lent shall be given a free hand with the scenario ...'
The discourse lasted for a quarter of an hour; then the chiefs of staff
nodded sagely; Simon was taken into another room and given a contract to
sign by which he received J 50 a week retaining fee and J 250 advance.
'You had better fix up with Miss Grits the times of work most suitable
to you. I shall expect your first treatment by the end of the week. I should
go and get some dinner if I were you. Must eat.'
Slightly dizzy, Simon hurried to the canteen where two languorous
blondes were packing up for the night.
'We've been on since four o'clock this morning,' they said, 'and the
supers* have eaten everything except the nougat. Sorry.'
Sucking a bar of nougat Simon emerged into the now deserted studio. On
three sides of him, to the height of twelve feet, rose in appalling
completeness the marble walls of the scene-restaurant; at his elbow a bottle
of imitation champagne still stood in its pail of melted ice; above and
beyond extended the vast gloom of rafters and ceiling.
'Fact,'' said Simon to himself, 'the world of action ... the pulse of
life ... Money, hunger ... Reality.''


* * *


Next morning he was called with the words, 'Two young ladies waiting to
see you.'
'Two?'
Simon put on his dressing-gown and, orange juice in hand, entered his
sitting-room. Miss Grits nodded pleasantly.
'We arranged to start at ten,' she said. 'But it doesn't really matter.
I shall not require you very much in the early stages. This is Miss Dawkins.
She is one of the staff stenographers. Sir James
thought you would need one. Miss Dawkins will be attached to you until
further notice. He also sent two copies of Hamlet. When you've had your
bath, I'll read you my notes for our first treatment.'
But this was not to be; before Simon was dressed Miss Grits had been
recalled to the studio on urgent business.
'I'll ring up and tell you when I am free,' she said.
Simon spent the morning dictating letters to everyone he could think
of; they began-Please forgive me for dictating this, but I am so busy just
now that I have little time for personal correspondence... Miss Dawkins sat
deferentially over her pad. He gave her Sylvia's number.
'Will you get on to this number and present my compliments to Miss
Lennox and ask her to luncheon at Espinoza's ... And book a table for two
there at one forty-five.'
'Darling,' said Sylvia, when they met, 'why were you out all yesterday,
and who was that voice this morning?'