merton of the movies-第42部分

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Merton　Gill；　enacting　the　part　of　a　popular　screen　idol；　as　in　the　play　of　yesterday；　sat　at　breakfast　in　his　apartments　on　Stage　Number　Five。　Outwardly　he　was　cool；　wary；　unperturbed；　as　he　peeled　the　shell　from　a　hard…boiled　egg　and　sprinkled　salt　upon　it。　For　the　breakfast　consisted　of　hard…boiled　eggs　and　potato　salad　brought　on　in　a　wooden　dish。

He　had　been　slightly　disturbed　by　the　items　of　this　meal；　it　was　not　so　elegant　a　breakfast　as　Hubert　Throckmorton's；　but　he　had　been　told　by　Baird　that　they　must　be　a　little　different。

He　had　been　slightly　disturbed；　too；　at　discovering　the　faithful　valet　who　brought　on　the　simple　repast　was　the　crosseyed　man。　Still；　the　fellow　had　behaved　respectfully；　as　a　valet　should。　He　had　been　quietly　obsequious　of　manner；　revealing　only　a　profound　admiration　for　his　master　and　a　constant　solicitude　for　his　comfort。　Probably　he；　like　Baird；　was　trying　to　do　something　distinctive　and　worth　while。

Having　finished　the　last　eggglad　they　had　given　him　no　more　than　threethe　popular　screen　idol　at　the　prompting　of　Baird；　back　by　the　cameras；　arose；　withdrew　a　metal　cigarette　case；　purchased　that　very　morning　with　this　scene　in　view；　and　selected　a　cigarette。　He　stood　negligently；　as　Parmalee　had　stood；　tapped　the　end　of　the　cigarette　on　the　side　of　the　case；　as　Parmalee　had　done；　lighted　a　match　on　the　sole　of　his　boot；　and　idly　smoked　in　the　Parmalee　manner。

Three　times　the　day　before　he　had　studied　Parmalee　in　this　bit　of　business。　Now　he　idly　crossed　to　the　centre…table　upon　which　reposed　a　large　photograph　album。　He　turned　the　pages　of　this；　pausing　to　admire　the　pictures　there　revealed。　Baird　had　not　only　given　him　general　instructions　for　this　scene；　but　now　prompted　him　in　low；　encouraging　tones。

〃Turn　over　slowly；　you　like　'em　all。　Now　lift　the　album　up　and　hold　it　for　a　better　light　on　that　one。　It's　one　of　the　best；　it　pleases　you　a　lot。　Look　even　more　pleasedsmile！　That's　good。　Put　down　the　album；　turn　again；　slowly；　turn　twice　more；　that's　it；　pick　it　up　again。　This　one　is　fine〃

Baird　took　him　through　the　album　in　this　manner；　had　him　close　it　when　all　the　leaves　were　turned；　and　stand　a　moment　with　one　hand　resting　on　it。　The　album　had　been　empty。　It　had　been　deemed　best　not　to　inform　the　actor　that　later　close…ups　of　the　pages　would　show　him　to　have　been　refreshed　by　studying　photographs　of　himselfcopies；　in　fact；　of　the　stills　of　Clifford　Armytage　at　that　moment　resting　on　Baird's　desk。

As　he　stood　now；　a　hand　affectionately　upon　the　album；　a　trace　of　the　fatuously　admiring　smile　still　lingering　on　his　expressive　face；　a　knock　sounded　upon　the　door。　〃Come　in；〃　he　called。

The　valet　entered　with　the　morning　mail。　This　consisted　entirely　of　letters。　There　were　hundreds　of　them；　and　the　valet　had　heaped　them　in　a　large　clothes…basket　which　he　now　held　respectfully　in　front　of　him。

The　actor　motioned　him；　with　an　authentic　Parmalee　gesture；　to　place　them　by　the　table。　The　valet　obeyed；　though　spilling　many　letters　from　the　top　of　the　overflowing　basket。　These；　while　his　master　seated　himself；　he　briskly　swept　up　with　a　broom。

The　chagrined　amusement　of　Harold　Parmalee；　the　half…savage；　half…　humorous　tolerance　for　this　perhaps　excusable　weakness　of　woman；　was　here　accurately　manifested。　The　actor　yawned　slightly；　lighted　another　cigarette　with　flawless　Parmalee　technique；　withdrew　a　handkerchief　from　his　sleeve…cuff；　lightly　touched　his　forehead　with　it；　and　began　to　open　the　letters。　He　glanced　at　each　one　in　a　quick；　bored　manner；　and　cast　it　aside。

When　a　dozen　or　so　had　been　thus　treated　he　was　aroused　by　another　knock　at　the　door。　It　opened　to　reveal　the　valet　with　another　basket　overflowing　with　letters。　Upon　this　the　actor　arose；　spread　his　arms　wide　in　a　gesture　of　humorous　helplessness。　He　held　this　briefly；　then　drooped　in　humorous　despair。

He　lighted　another　cigarette；　eyed　the　letters　with　that　whimsical　lift　of　the　brows　so　characteristic　of　Parmalee；　and　lazily　blew　smoke　toward　them。　Then；　regarding　the　smoke；　he　idly　waved　a　hand　through　it。　〃Poor；　silly　little　girls！〃　But　there　was　a　charming　tolerance　in　his　manner。　One　felt　his　generous　recognition　that　they　were　not　wholly　without　provocation。

This　appeared　to　close　the　simple　episode。　The　scenes；　to　be　sure；　had　not　been　shot　without　delays　and　rehearsals；　and　a　good　two　hours　of　the　morning　had　elapsed　before　the　actor　was　released　from　the　glare　of　light　and　the　need　to　remember　that　he　was　Harold　Parmalee。　His　peeling　of　an　egg；　for　example；　had　not　at　first　been　dainty　enough　to　please　the　director；　and　the　scene　with　the　album　had　required　many　rehearsals　to　secure　the　needed　variety　of　expressions；　but　Baird　had　been　helpful　in　his　promptings；　and　always　kind。

〃Now；　this　one　you've　turned　overit's　someone　you　love　better　than　anybody。　It　might　be　your　dear　old　mother　that　you　haven't　seen　for　years。　It　makes　you　kind　of　solemn　as　you　show　how　fond　you　were　of　her。　You're　affected　deeply　by　her　face。　That's　it；　fine！　Now　the　next　one；　you　like　it　just　as　much；　but　it　pleases　you　more。　It's　someone　else　you're　fond　of；　but　you're　not　so　solemn。

〃Now　turn　over　another；　but　very　slowslowbut　don't　let　go　of　it。　Stop　a　minute　and　turn　back　as　if　you　had　to　have　another　peek　at　the　last　one；　see　what　I　mean？　Take　plenty　of　time。　This　is　a　great　treat　for　you。　It　makes　you　feel　kind　of　religious。　Now　you're　getting　itthat's　the　boy！　All　right〃

The　scene　where　he　showed　humorous　dismay　at　the　quantity　of　his　mail　had　needed　but　one　rehearsal。　He　had　here　been　Harold　Parmalee　without　effort。　Also　he　had　not　been　asked　to　do　again　the　Parmalee　trick　of　lighting　a　cigarette　nor　of　withdrawing　the　handkerchief　from　its　cuff　to　twice　touch　his　forehead　in　moments　of　amused　perplexity。　Baird　had　merely　uttered　a　low　〃Fine！〃　at　beholding　these　bits。

He　drew　a　long　breath　of　relief　when　released　from　the　set。　Seemingly　he　had　met　the　test。　Baird　had　said　that　morning；　〃Now　we'll　just　run　a　little　kind　of　test　to　find　out　a　few　things　about　you；〃　and　had　followed　with　a　general　description　of　the　scenes。　It　was　to　be　of　no　great　importancea　minor　detail　of　the　picture。　Perhaps　this　had　been　why　the　wealthy　actor　breakfasted　in　rather　a　plainly　furnished　room　on　hard…boiled　eggs　and　potato　salad。　Perhaps　this　had　been　why　the　costume　given　him　had　been　not　too　well　fitting；　not　too　nice　in　detail。　Perhaps　this　was　why　they　had　allowed　the　cross…eyed　man　to　appear　as　his　valet。　He　was　quite　sure　this　man　would　not　do　as　a　valet　in　a　high…class　picture。　Anyway；　however　unimportant　the　scene；　he　felt　that　he　had　acquitted　himself　with　credit。

The　Montague　girl；　who　had　made　him　up　that　morning；　with　close　attention　to　his　eyebrows；　watched　him　from　back　of　the　cameras；　and　she　seized　both　his　hands　when　he　left　the　set。　〃You're　going　to　land；〃　she　warmly　assured　him。　〃I　can　tell　a　trouper　when　I　see　one。〃

She　was　in　costume。　She　was　apparently　doing　the　part　of　a　society　girl；　though　slightly　overdressed；　he　thought。

〃We're　working　on　another　set　for　this　same　picture；〃　she　explained；　〃but　I　simply　had　to　catch　you　acting。　You'll　probably　be　over　with　us　to…morrow。　But　you're　through　for　the　day；　so　beat　it　and　have　a　good　time。〃

〃Couldn't　I　come　over　and　watch　you？〃

〃No；　Baird　doesn't　like　to　have　his　actors　watching　things　they　ain't　in；　he　told　me　specially　that　you　weren't　to　be　around　except　when　you're　working。　You　see；　he's　using　you　in　kind　of　a　special　part　in　this　multiple…reeler；　and　he's　afraid　you　might　get　confused　if　you　watched　the　other　parts。　I　guess　he'll　start　you　to…morrow。　You're　to　be　in　a　good；　wholesome　heart　play。　You'll　have　a　great　chance　in　it。〃

〃Well；　I'll　go　see　if　I　can　find　another　Parmalee　picture　for　this　afternoon。　Say；　you　don't　think　I　was　too　much　like　him　in　that　scene；　do　you？　You　know　it's　one　thing　if　I　look　like　himI　can't　help　thatbut　I　shouldn't　try　to　imitate　him　too　closely；　should　I？　I　got　to　think　about　my　own　individuality；　haven't　I？〃

〃Sure；　sure　you　have！　But　you　were　fineyour　imitation　wasn't　a　bit　too　close。　You　can　think　about　your　own　individuality　this　afternoon　when　you're　watching　him。〃

　Late　that　day　in　the　projection　room　Baird　and　the　Montague　girl　watched　the　〃rush〃　of　that　morning's　episode。

〃The　squirrel's　done　it；〃　whispered　the　girl　after　the　opening　scene。　It　seemed　to　her　that　Merton　Gill　on　the　screen　might　overhear　her　comment。

Even　Baird　was　low…toned。　〃Looks　so；〃　he　agreed。

〃If　that　ain't　Parmalee　then　I'll　eat　all　the　hard…boiled　eggs　on　the　lot。〃

Baird　rubbed　his　hands。　〃It's　Parmalee　plus；〃　he　corrected。

〃Oh；　Mother；　Mother！〃　murmured　the　girl　while　the　screen　revealed　the　actor　studying　his　photographs。

〃He　handled　all　right　in　that　spot；〃　observed　Baird。

〃He'll　handle　rightdon't　worry。　Ain't　I　told　you　he's　a　natural　born　trouper？〃

The　mail　was　abandoned　in　humorous　despair。　The　cigarette　lighted　in　a　flawless　Parmalee　manner；　the　smoke　idly　brushed　aside。　〃Poor；　silly　little　girls；〃　the　actor　was　seen　to　say。　The　girl　gripped　Baird's　arm　until　he　winced。　〃There；　old　Pippin！　There's　your　million；　picked　right　up　on　the　lot！〃

〃Maybe；〃　assented　the　cooler　Baird；　as　they　left　the　projection　room。

〃And　say；〃　asked　the　girl；　〃did　you　notice　all　morning　how　he　didn't　even　bat　an　eye　when　you　spoke　to　him；　if　the　camera　was　still　turning？　Not　like　a　beginner　that'll　nearly　always　look　up　and　get　out　of　the　picture。〃

〃What　I　bet；〃　observed　Baird；　〃I　bet　he'd　'a'　done　that　album　stuff　even　better　than　he　did　if　I'd　actually　put　his　own　pictures　in；　the　way　I'm　going　to　for　the　close…ups。　I　was　afraid　he'd　see　it　was　kidding　if　I　did；　or　if　I　told　him　what　pictures　they　were　going　to　be。　But　I'm　darned　now　if　I　don't　think　he'd　have　stood　for　it。　I　don't　believe　you'll　ever　be　able　to　peeve　that　boy　by　telling　him　he's　good。〃

The　girl　glanced　up　defensively　as　they　walked。

〃Now　don't　get　the　idea　he's　conceited；　because　he　ain't。　Not　one　bit。〃

〃How　do　you　know　he　ain't？〃

She　considered　this；　then　explained　brightly；　〃Because　I　wouldn't　like　him　if　he　was。　No；　nonow　you　listen　here〃　as　Baird　had　grinned。　〃This　lad　believes　in　himself；　that's　all。　That's　diffe