A letter dated before Jimmy’s fatal first meeting with Miss Slosson, awaited him at the theatre. It brought tidings that did not have a tendency to make life more interesting. It was from Jordan, Madame Stephano’s personal manager on tour with the company, and it summoned him back to Cleveland for the opening performance on Monday night.
“There are many matters on which Madame Stephano and myself wish to consult with you,” the letter ran, “among them being the methods of publicity8 best calculated to further her interests as a star. Our appeal, as you know, is to the intellectual element in the community and you must carefully avoid anything in the nature of cheap or sensational9 stories or what are vulgarly known as ‘stunts.’ We will go into this at greater length when I see you.”
“I’m in for a spring canning,” Jimmy observed to the manager of the theatre when he had finished reading Jordan’s letter. “I wouldn’t mind that so much if I could have got my exit cue in a blaze of glory, but this thing of being bumped off on top of an awful fall-down like that gets under the little old epidermis10.”
Madame Stephano occasionally varied11 her Ibsen repertoire12 with performances of plays by other European dramatists. She had chosen a modern Spanish tragedy for her opening in Cleveland, and the first act was under way when a certain forlorn looking figure slouched wearily into the manager’s office and moodily13 inquired for Mr. Jordan. The company manager, a thoroughly14 house-broken slave to the temperamental caprices of the star, came forward.
“I’m Martin,” gloomily vouchsafed15 the visitor.
“You are, eh?” responded the manager, acridly16, looking him over with indifferently concealed17 scorn. “We’ve been waiting for you all day.”
“Who do you mean by ‘we’?” timidly inquired the chastened press agent.
“Why, the madame and myself. We were curious to see what you looked like. You seem fairly intelligent.”
Ordinarily Jimmy would have resented the implied sneer18 in this remark and would have flared19 up with an indignant rejoinder, but his spirit seemed crushed to earth never to rise again. The surrounding atmosphere was to him pregnant with impending20 tragedy. He contented21 himself with a nervous little laugh.
“I’ve never been accused of it,” he said foolishly.
“Of course, we’ve heard about your ridiculous fiasco last week,” went on Jordan. “You’ve certainly let yourself in for it with the madame. I wonder what you think this attraction is, anyway—a circus side show or a cabaret? I’ll give you credit, though. You had a cast iron nerve to attempt such a thing with her. They say God looks after fools and drunken folks. I hope He’s on your side tonight.”
Jimmy gulped22 before he made reply.
“Is she—is she a little annoyed?” he stammered23.
“Yes, just a little,” laughed the other sarcastically24. “Just a wee bit put out. It’s hardly worth mentioning, but if I were you I’d stick around on this side of the footlights until after the show. We’ve got eighteen hundred inside tonight and I wouldn’t like to have to give the money back. Something might happen if you went back stage. I’ll see you later.”
He slipped into an inner office and Jimmy was left alone with his misery25. He wandered out into the brilliantly lighted lobby and sauntered into the auditorium26 for his first view of the great actress. She was on the stage as he entered and he peered at her from behind the plush curtains which hung back of the last row of seats. She was playing a scene of brisk and brittle27 comedy and she moved about the stage with all the lithe28 and lissome29 grace of a beautiful tiger. She was making mordant30 mockery of another woman in the play, assailing31 her with wicked rapier thrusts of biting wit and smiling a smile that struck terror into Jimmy’s heart. There was a malicious32 gleam in her black eyes that fascinated him. They seemed to his over-wrought imagination like the nasty eyes of a serpent he had once seen in a glass case in the zoo. He shuddered33 with apprehension34.
As the curtain fell and the lights went up he caught sight of the figure of E. Cartwright Jenkins coming up the aisle35. He effaced36 himself with surprising suddenness by making for the nearest exit door. It led to a fire-escape and he stood there in the semi-darkness letting the cool night air soothe37 his fevered brow and trying to collect his befuddled38 train of thought. This last was impossible. All that he seemed able to comprehend was that he was in for the most disagreeable experience of his fair young life, and that there was no possible escape from it except in flight. He was too good a soldier to run away. That much was certain.
When the lights went out again and the second act began Jimmy resumed his place behind the curtains once more and continued his observations of Madame Stephano. It was in this act that the “big scene” of the play occurred, the scene in which the outraged39 wife reverted40 to the primitive41 passions of her Andalusian peasant ancestors and made things decidedly uncomfortable for her husband and several other characters in the piece. It was full of lines in which, as the old actor said, “one could get one’s teeth into” and it may be stated that the famous Russian-American actress played it for all it was worth and then some. She erupted, exploded, and otherwise comported42 herself in an extremely violent and disturbing manner. As a final touch she committed aggravated43 assault and battery on the person of her husband and wound up the festivities by making a general wreck44 of the drawing room in which the scene was laid. Jimmy watched the early proceedings45 with growing distrust. When the final nerve-shattering moment arrived and the curtain fell amid a wild uproar46 from the audience he found himself sagging47 and he clutched a pillar for support. A clammy perspiration48 bespangled his brow. He felt decidedly sick and he longed for the comforts of home and the quiet ministrations of some gentle female who would soothe and mother him.
In a daze49, he sauntered out into the lobby again. Jordan, who had just come back from back stage, touched him on the arm.
“The madame wishes to see you right after the last act,” he remarked with a sinister50 smile.
Only that and nothing more. He turned on his heel and disappeared into the office. Jimmy leaned against the wall and eyed with envy the noisy and laughing throng51 of men who had come out for a smoke between the acts.
At precisely52 the same time an usher53 slipped down one of the theatre aisles54, touched E. Cartwright Jenkins on the shoulder and handed him a note. The critic adjusted his glasses and tore it open. This is what he read:
Mon Cher Jenkins:—
May I not give myself the great pleasure of meeting you for a moment after the play? I have for many years been an admirer of your great and most excellent genius, and I have had what is called the longing55 to greet you. I have had the hesitation56 of asking to see you as I know you are a most busy man. Tonight there is a matter of the so great importance that I would speak to you concerning. Please, my dear sir, do me this very high honor, I implore57 you.
OLGA STEPHANO.
E. Cartwright smiled expansively. It may also be remarked that he beamed and it may be further added that he felt himself once more securely affixed58 upon a pedestal in his personal Hall of Fame.
The final moment of the Spanish play found Madame Stephano sitting alone at the dinner table in the heroine’s home. Fate and the fell clutch of circumstance had resulted in her estrangement59 from her family and from her friends and she had dined alone. As the curtain fell, disillusioned60 and miserable61, she dropped her head in her hands and sobbed62 bitterly.
Jimmy, having been assured that his nemesis63 would be on the stage throughout the entire act, had tip-toed back when the scene was half finished. A hopeless fear gnawed64 at his vitals, but he tried to put on a brave face. He watched the curtain descend65 from a place in the wings and he saw it rise again and again in response to tumultuous applause. The actress, artist that she was, never raised her head or stepped out of the picture.
After the last call had been taken he heard the orchestra strike up the exit march. Determined66 to get the unpleasant business over with he stepped through a door leading to the boxed-off scene. To his utter bewilderment at precisely the same moment there entered upon the scene from the opposite side no less a personage than E. Cartwright Jenkins. That gentleman’s buoyant air of self-confidence and serene67 self-approval left him with an abruptness68 that was startling. He stopped his progress and stood rooted to the spot. The two gazed at each other in amazement69. E. Cartwright’s lips moved, but he found himself inarticulate. Swayed by a common impulse they both turned to Madame Stephano.
That lady still sat with her head in her hands. As they looked she raised herself slowly and gazed from one to the other. A nasty glint came into her eyes. She sprang to her feet so suddenly that she overturned the chair in which she had been sitting. She swept a long arm out in front of her body and shook it at them both in turn.
Jimmy instinctively70 put up his guard. E. Cartwright’s face paled.
“You have come, eh?” screamed Madame Stephano, “you are both here. You have come to let me tell you what I zink of you, eh?”
Her voice was stridently intense and her whole face was ablaze71 with uncontrolled fury. Her accent was more marked than usual. She poured out her words with a rapidity that was amazing.
“You have come to let me tell you both zat you have insult Olga Marie Stephano and zat Olga Marie Stephano does not let herself be made ze target for ze insult. You poor leetle fool, you”—this to Jimmy—“you have meex my name up with zis crazee pastree pie announcement. Am I to have no deegnety. Is Olga Marie Stephano a cook or an actress—wheech? And you, Meestaire Cartwright Jeenkens, your paper it preent zis crazee theeng, it preent it and it make me into one great, beeg, foolish crazee—what you call?—what you call, I say?—one great, beeg, foolish, crazee dam fool. Eet ees too much, oh, much too much. Mon Dieu, mon Dieu—eet ees too much.”
She paused, her bosom72 heaving like a prima donna’s after an aria73. Her two visitors began to back gingerly away. She looked from one to the other and then there slowly broke upon her face, a smile. It came like a blessed benison74, and it presently merged75 into a laugh, light and silvery at first and then hearty76 and uncontrolled.
“Gentlemen,” she said sweetly when the laughter had died down, “excuse me, please, eef I make such a laugh. You look so funee. Pardonnez moi, pardonnez moi. Eet ees just my leetle joke, gentlemen, just my leetle joke. I have here one grand surprise for you. Voila!!”
With all the easy grace and dexterity77 of a prestidigitator she reached toward the table and plucked a napkin off a dish in the centre. To the astonished eyes of the press agent and the dramatic editor there was revealed an apple pie that transcended78 in appearance even that famous piece of pastry79 which had met with such a disastrous80 end in the Star office a few days before.
“Will you not please take seats,” cooed the actress.
Her hypnotized guests dropped into chairs. Madame Stephano took the place between them. At her side was a bowl filled with whipped cream. Ample portions of the pie were anointed with this by her own hands and served. A mouthful of the delicious dessert proved to each its surpassing excellence81. The actress watched them eat with pardonable pride.
“Meestaire Jimmy,” she said, turning to the now thoroughly flabbergasted press agent. “I have play zis leetle scene to—what you call it?—to make good. I have hear all about zat affaire of ze hot pie. I have invite Meestaire Jenkeens to let heem see zat I really can bake ze apple pie pastree. I bake heem in ze hotel keetchen zis afternoon. It was funee—zat hot pie, eh?”
She had turned to E. Cartwright. Concealed somewhere about his person that worthy82 gentleman had a slight sense of humor which occasionally revealed itself. This was one of the occasions. He laughed heartily83. When he left a few minutes afterwards to write his review the entente84 cordiale had been re-established between himself and Jimmy. She had a way with her when she chose, had Madame Stephano, and never were her wiles85 more effectively utilized86 than a moment later when she found herself alone with her press agent.
“Meestaire Jimmy,” she purred. “I have for many years been ze foolish woman. I have been too much what you Americans so quaintly87 call—ze up stage. I have tried to be oh, so deegnefied, so very much deegnefied. I was mad wiz you, Meestaire Jimmy, when I read about ze pie and when I hear yesterday about ze catastrophe88 in ze newspaper office I could have keel you. But I find I have ze beegest advance sale I have ever had, and I have change my mind. I am going to lose my deegnety, Meestaire Jimmy. Go ahead, Meestaire Jimmy, you tell ze lies and I will—what you call him again—I will—make good.”
“Say, Madame,” responded Jimmy, whose self-assurance once more enveloped89 him like an aura, “do you know what you are?”
“No, Meestaire Jimmy. What I am?”
“I’ll say you’re one regular guy.”
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收听单词发音
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1
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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jaunty
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| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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7
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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epidermis
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| n.表皮 | |
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11
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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repertoire
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| n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表 | |
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13
moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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15
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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16
acridly
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| adj.辛辣的；刺鼻的；（性格、态度、言词等）刻薄的；尖刻的 | |
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17
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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18
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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19
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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20
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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auditorium
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| n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂 | |
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brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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lissome
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| adj.柔软的；敏捷的 | |
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30
mordant
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| adj.讽刺的；尖酸的 | |
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31
assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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38
befuddled
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| adj.迷糊的，糊涂的v.使烂醉( befuddle的过去式和过去分词 )；使迷惑不解 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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40
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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42
comported
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| v.表现( comport的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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44
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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47
sagging
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| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
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48
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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49
daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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50
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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51
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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52
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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53
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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54
aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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55
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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56
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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57
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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58
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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estrangement
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| n.疏远，失和，不和 | |
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disillusioned
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| a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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63
nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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64
gnawed
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| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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65
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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66
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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67
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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68
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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69
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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70
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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71
ablaze
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| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
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72
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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73
aria
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| n.独唱曲，咏叹调 | |
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74
benison
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| n.祝福 | |
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75
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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76
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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78
transcended
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| 超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的过去式和过去分词 )； 优于或胜过… | |
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79
pastry
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| n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点 | |
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80
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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81
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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82
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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83
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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84
entente
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| n.协定；有协定关系的各国 | |
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85
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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86
utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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89
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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