The Breaking Point - Page 32/275

Louis Bassett was standing at the back of the theater, talking to the

publicity man of The Valley company, Fred Gregory. Bassett was calm and

only slightly interested. By the end of the first act he had realized

that the star was giving a fine performance, that she had even grown in

power, and that his sentimental memory of her was considerably dearer

than the reality.

"Going like a house afire," he said, as the curtain fell.

Beside his robust physique, Gregory, the publicity man, sank into

insignificance. Even his pale spats, at which Bassett had shot a

contemptuous glance, his highly expensive tailoring, failed to make him

appear more than he was, a little, dapper man, with a pale cold eye and

a rather too frequent smile. "She's the best there is," was his comment.

He hesitated, then added: "She's my sister, you know. Naturally, for

business reasons, I don't publish the relationship."

Bassett glanced at him.

"That so? Well, I'm glad she decided to come back. She's too good to

bury."

But if he expected Gregory to follow the lead he was disappointed. His

eyes, blank and expressionless, were wandering over the house as the

lights flashed up.

"This whole tour has been a triumph. She's the best there is," Gregory

repeated, "and they know it."

"Does she know it?" Bassett inquired.

"She doesn't throw any temperament, if that's what you mean. She--"

He checked himself suddenly, and stood, clutching the railing, bent

forward and staring into the audience. Bassett watched him, considerably

surprised. It took a great deal to startle a theatrical publicity man,

yet here was one who looked as though he had seen a ghost.

After a time Gregory straightened and moistened his dry lips.

"There's a man sitting down there--see here, the sixth row, next the

aisle; there's a girl in a blue dress beside him. See him? Do you know

who he is?"

"Never saw him before."

For perhaps two minutes Gregory continued to stare. Then he moved over

to the side of the house and braced against the wall continued his close

and anxious inspection. After a time he turned away and, passing behind

the boxes, made his way into the wings. Bassett's curiosity was aroused,

especially when, shortly after, Gregory reappeared, bringing with him

a small man in an untidy suit who was probably, Bassett surmised, the

stage manager.

He saw the small man stare, nod, stand watching, and finally disappear,

and Gregory resume his former position and attitude against the side

wall. Throughout the last act Gregory did not once look at the stage. He

continued his steady, unwavering study of the man in the sixth row seat

next the aisle, and Bassett continued his study of the little man.