"Oh,I know it by heart--my part of it.You see,he wouldn't keep away from me while he was thinking of it.He kept consulting me about everything in it.In a way,we worked over it together."The little man looked at me,slowly closing one eye.It is a habit of his when he's going to do something particularly nasty.
"Then,in a way,as you say,it is part yours.""Hardly!Imagine Nance Olden writing a line of a play!""Still you--collaborated;that's the word.I say,my dear,if Icould read that comedy,and it was--half what you say it is,Imight--I don't promise,mind--but I might let you have the part that was written for you and put the thing on.Has he drilled you any,eh?He was the best stage-manager we ever had before he got the notion of managing for himself--and ruining himself.""Well,he's all that yet.Of course,he has told me,and we agreed how the thing should be done.As he'd write,you know,he'd read the thing over to me,and I--""Fine--fine!A reading from that fool Obermuller would be enough to open the eyes of a clever woman.I'd like to read that comedy--yes?""But Obermuller would never--"
"But Olden might--"
"What?"
"Dictate the plot to my secretary,Mason,in there,"he nodded his head back toward the inner room."She could give him the plot and as much of her own part in full as she could remember.
You know Mason.Used to be a newspaper man.Smart fellow,that,when he's sober.He could piece out the holes--yes?"I looked at him.The little beast sat there,slowly closing one eye and opening it again.He looked like an unhealthy little frog,with his bald head,his thin-lipped mouth that laughed,while the wrinkles rayed away from his cold,sneering eyes that had no smile in them.
"I--I wouldn't like to make an enemy of a man like Obermuller,Mr.Tausig.""Bah!Ain't I told you he's on the toboggan?""But you never can tell with a man like that.Suppose he got into that combine with Heffelfinger and Dixon and Weinstock?""What're you talking about?"
"Well,it's what I've heard."
"But Heffelfinger and Dixon and Weinstock are all in with us;who told you that fairy story?"
"Obermuller himself."
The little fellow laughed.His is a creaky,almost silent little laugh;if a spider could laugh he'd laugh that way.
"They're fooling him a bunch or two.Never you mind Obermuller.
He's a dead one."
"Oh,he said that you thought they were in with you,but that nothing but a written agreement would hold men like that.And that you hadn't got.""Smart fellow,that Obermuller.He'd have been a good man to have in the business if it hadn't been for those independent ideas he's got.He's right;it takes--""So there is an agreement!"I shouted,in spite of myself,as Ileaned forward.
He sat back in his chair,or,rather,he let it swallow him again.
"What business is that of yours?Stick to the business on hand.
Get to work on that play with Mason inside.If it's good,and we decide to put it on,we'll pay you five hundred dollars down in addition to your salary.If it's rot,you'll have your salary weekly all the time you're at it,just the same as if you were working,till I can place you.In the meantime,keep your ears and eyes open and watch things,and your mouth shut.I'll speak to Mason and he'll be ready for you to-morrow morning.Come round in the morning;there's nobody about then,and we want to keep this thing dark till it's done.Obermuller mustn't get any idea what we're up to.He don't love you--no--for shaking him?""He's furious;wouldn't even say good-by.I'm done for with him,anyway,I guess.But what could I do?""Nothing,my dear;nothing.You're a smart little girl,"he chuckled."Ta-ta!"