'Morning.'
Sir Henry gesticulating violently turned away and began in French to
tell a humorous story to which the Frenchman said, '_Oui, oui_,' and
the Jew said, '_Oui, oui_,' while Clara, who could speak French as
fluently as English, understood not a word of it; but this morning she
liked Sir Henry because he was so happy and because he was so full of
vitality.
His business with the Jew and the Frenchman was soon settled fairly to
their satisfaction. They went away, and Sir Henry began to collect his
thoughts. He turned to his secretary and asked,--
'We are rehearsing a play, eh? All these ladies and gentlemen are not
here for nothing, eh? What play?'
'_The Golden Hawk_.'
'Ah! Yes.... I have rehearsed so many plays.... I am thinking of my
big Autumn success.... I can feel it in the air. I can always feel
it. I felt that _Ivanhoe_ was no good, but I was over-persuaded. My
instinct is always right. The business men and the authors are always
wrong....'
He flew into a sudden passion, and roared, 'Who the hell let down the
fire-proof? I hate the thing. Take it away. How can a man rehearse
to a fire-proof curtain? Take it away. Send it to the London County
Council who inflicted it on me. I don't want it.'