Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-02
CHAPTER. Ill

ally meet many people whom ne knew al
these establishments. for he had seldom
been in the provinces. and London actors
and actresses do not. as rule require
an agent to secure them their irregular
engagements.
Under the magical effect OF his bath
buns Anthony sprang up the stone stair
case that led to the airy and spacious Of
fees where Mr. White held his court. 1t
might be supposed that A theatrical agent
is in something of the same relation TO-
ward his client AS is a lawyer. but the
supposition would be grossly inaccurate.
The rela ton of the two parties is one OF
the strange anomalies of the theatrical
profession. for though the agent coDde-
sends to take their money-when he can
get 1.-THE demeanor of his customers
much more suggests that he Is paying
them a salary. To bow the knee to in
Vulnerable masters is one of the privi-
leges enjoyed by those who belong To the
most erratic and irresponsible profession
in the world.
Mr. White had been an agent from his
youth. and the greater part of his life
had been spent in edgfng importunate
mo;Inte cha nks-most of them crazy with
vanity-out of his presence. with the re-
suit that even in social intercourse he
presented so many promontories that he
was at all times difficult coast to navi-
four rooms leading one into another. and
the way in which lie could pass through
the most determined cluster of young la
dies anxious to tell him of their latest
success without being detained one mo-
ment showed absolute genius.
He was not visible when Anthony ar
rived and he posed himself negligently
in doorway, where he could command
the agents entrances and exits. and at
the same time get breath of fresh air
,i,.a Nsay-
cosmetic. Ii was not time of the year
when the office was ever very full. but on
the seats round the walls was ranged a
fairly representative gathering. There
was the middle-aged man. out-at-elbows.
with a soft sombrero hat, questionable
linen and Misunderstanding nose. De
preston was his dominant note. "A de-
preston which seemed to be the result of
a full knowledge that he was going under
as fast as an uncomfortable love OF
strong drink could carry him. He was
struggling for his life in river of aico-
hol and was probably just about TO sink
for the third time. In one corner there
was a dapper little comedian. dressed IN
large checks. explaining to tall, heavy
looking man. who obviously devoted him
self to the business side of the profess on.
the disgraceful conduct of a manager who
had had the audacity and ignorance to
declare THAI he was by no means as
mirth-provoking creature as he had
made himself out to be.
There was the usual stage child. pre-
maturely aged. with a prettiness which
was anything but that of youth. sitting
beside an anemic-looking mother: and
there were one or two young gentlemen,
evidently decently born and genteelly
nurtured-if an adjective amazingly de-
scriptive and unjustly shouldered from its
legitimate occupation may be used. An
obvious stage villain. seated as was only
seemly. In majestic solitude in the dark
est corner of the room, glowered on these
young gentlemen with look of bilious
dislike. The poor lads had not siXpence
between them. and had walked in from
their distant suburban homes hoping to
carry back with them some justification
for having adopted profession which so
far had only made them look supremely
ridiculous in the eyes of their friends
and relations. But everything is COM
parative. and the antique tragedian, be-
cause they looked gentlemen. regarded
them as the trivial and gilded recruits
who were running the profession and TAX
ing the bread-not to speak of the drink
out of the mouths of serious workers lik :
himself.
Anthony surveyed them with the almost
unconscious expression of superiority
with which he was wont TO look on ordi-
nary moTtalS. One of the weil-dreSSed
young gentlemen knew him slightly, and
gave him a genial smile. which met
with a slight and rather bored inclination
of the head. The recipient of what An
thony considered d most gracious ac-
acknowledgement inwardy determined never
to give him second chance of snubb.ng
him. and told his friend that because that
chap in the doorway had carried a
banner in London he considered himself
too good to speak to a touring actor.
Whilst Anthony stood waiting he was
nearly carried off his feet by the entrance
of girlish figure of some forty or fifty
i -, h. 90 ia,
venility. who. casting a hurried glance
round, caught sight of the mother and
child, flew at them and. having embraced
both most affectionately. settled herself
between them and, producing huge puff,
powdered her face most audaciously. lin
gering over her nose as though it were
some rare work of art-which it most Ger
tainly was. The mother asked her
whether she had just finished. which
question. of course. did not apply to the
powdering. but to the conclusion of pro-
fessonal engagement This was exactly
what the gifted young lady had wanted.
and she burst into d perfect torrent OF
"reminiscences. during which Anthony
caught such words as: Juliet and Lady
Isabel. Such d success nothing
like it known before ii. my dear. Mr..
Manning. the Romeo. = =" Played it be-
fore? Thousands of times
She kept one eye on Anthony as if he
were a gallery
After a time the dullness of the place
got on his nerves and he went on to the
next agents: and so on. through half "a
dozen offices, and found himself. usual.
at about :; o'clock in the afternoon with
nothing to do and very hungry. He called
at the rooms of one or two men he knew
in the hope that they might be at home
in company with afternoon tea. but as
they were not he wendell his way YEARLY
toward the park. where he thought Ii =
would rest till the time came to go to
dinner. The idea had crossed his mind of
asking al one friends rooms if he m GIT
go in and write a note. on the off chance
of there being biscuit box handy: but
he controlled himself. After all. it was
not desirable TO get reputation for bis
cult stealing. He was becoming thor
oughly depressed again. 1t was quite
obvious that only the unexpected could
carry him upward to those heights of
prosperity which could satisfy him.
In this mood he found himself passing
through Grosvenor Square. He remem-
bered ever afterWard that he had at the
time felt a consciousness of impending
events of Importance.
Half way across the square he saw
ahead of him a victoria drawn up at the
curb. tall. aristocratic-looking man.
who was hatless. and had evidently just
come out of the house, was talking to a
lady seated in the carriage. While An
thony was still three or four yards away
some one passed him who said to his
companion:
THAT is Lord Cammarleish-the Mar
quis of Cammarlsigh." Anthony gaZed
ahead with added curiosity. for every
one is interested in seeing what marquis
is like, whatever some people may pre-
tend to the contrary. He knew the Mar
quis of Cammarlegh by reputation: who
moi II ono Of ,a ric no