hr.thecarpetbaggers-第111节

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　〃Good；〃　I　said。　That　was　the　way　it　was　with　big　directors。　The　two　hundred　grand　you　paid　them　meant　nothing；　they　could　get　that　on　any　picture。　The　important　thing　was　the　script。　And　the　players。
　Bonner　walked　to　the　door　and　stood　there　a　moment；　looking　back　at　Jennie。　〃So　long；〃　he　said　finally。
　〃Good…by；　Mr。　Bonner；〃　Jennie　said　politely。
　I　nodded　as　he　went　out　the　door。
　〃Can　I　sit　down　now？〃　Jennie　asked。
　〃Help　yourself。〃
　She　sat　down　and　watched　silently　as　I　ran　through　the　papers　on　my　desk。　The　preliminary　budget。　Set…construction　estimates。　Bonner　was　right　…　this　was　going　to　cost　money。
　〃Do　I　have　to　look　like　her？〃　Jennie　asked　softly。
　I　glanced　up。　〃What？〃
　〃Do　I　have　to　look　like　her？〃
　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　know。　I　just　feel　funny；　that's　all。　Like　it's　not　me；　any　more。　Like　I'm　a　ghost。〃
　I　didn't　answer。
　〃Is　that　all　you　saw　in　the　test　…　Rina　Marlowe？〃
　〃She　was　the　biggest　thing　ever　to　hit　the　screen。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃But　I'm　not　her。　I　could　never　be。〃
　I　stared　at　her。　〃For　two　thousand　dollars　a　week；〃　I　said；　〃you'll　be　whatever　I　tell　you　to　be。〃
　She　didn't　answer。　Just　looked　at　me。　Her　eyes　were　masked　and　somber　and　I　couldn't　tell　what　she　was　thinking。　〃You　remember　that；〃　I　said　quietly。　〃A　thousand　girls　like　you　e　to　Hollywood　every　year。　I　could　take　my　pick　of　any　of　them。　If　you　don't　like　it；　go　back　to　what　you　were　doing　before　Bonner　saw　you　at　that　party。〃
　A　kind　of　caution　came　into　her　eyes。　It　wouldn't　hurt　to　have　her　a　little　afraid　of　me。　She　was　entirely　too　cocky。　〃Bonner　told　you　about　me？〃
　〃Not　a　word。　He　didn't　have　to。　You　told　me　all　I　needed　to　know。　Girls　like　you　are　always　looking　for　a　producer　to　impress。　Well；　you　were　lucky　…　you　got　one。　Don't　louse　it　up。〃　
　She　let　her　breath　out　slowly。　The　cautious　look　had　gone　out　of　her　eyes。　Suddenly；　she　smiled。　〃O。K。；　massa；　anything　you　say。〃
　I　walked　around　the　desk；　and　pulled　her　up　into　my　arms。　Her　mouth　was　soft　and　warm　and　when　I　looked　down；　her　eyes　were　closed。　And　then　the　damn　telephone　rang。　I　reached　around　behind　her　and　picked　it　up。　It　was　McAllister；　calling　from　New　York。
　〃That　agency　located　Winthrop　for　you；〃　he　said。
　〃Good。　Get　in　touch　with　him　and　tell　him　to　get　his　ass　out　here。〃
　〃Their　man　says　he　won't　e。〃
　〃Then　call　Monica　and　have　her　talk　to　him。　He'll　listen　to　her。〃
　〃I　did；〃　Mac　said　quickly。　〃But　she's　already　left　for　California；　on　the　Twentieth　Century；　this　noon。　If　you　want　him；　you'd　better　do　it　yourself。〃
　〃I'm　too　busy　to　e　running　back　to　New　York。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to。　Amos　is　in　Chicago。　The　agency　office　out　there　will　tell　you　how　to　locate　him。〃
　〃Chicago？　Well；　I　guess　I'll　have　to　go　after　him。〃　I　put　down　the　telephone　and　looked　at　Jennie。　〃The　weekend's　ing　up；〃　she　said　softly。　〃I'm　not　doing　anything。　Chicago's　a　great　town。〃
　〃You'll　e？〃　I　asked。
　She　nodded。　〃We'll　fly；　won't　we？〃
　〃All　the　way；〃　I　said。
　
　7
　
　JENNIE　LOOKED　AT　ME。　〃THIS　IS　THE　WAY　TO　TRAVEL；〃　SHE　SAID。　〃A　WHOLE　PLANE　TO　OURSELVES。〃
　I　looked　around　the　empty　cabin　of　the　ICA　that　Buzz　had　put　on　special　flight　for　me　when　I　had　called。　I　checked　my　watch。　It　was　almost　nine　o'clock。　I　moved　it　forward　two　hours　to　Chicago　time。　I　felt　the　slight　change　of　pressure　in　my　ears。　We　were　starting　to　e　down。
　〃It　must　be　great　to　own　an　airline；〃　Jennie　said；　smiling。
　〃It　es　in　handy　when　you　have　to　get　someplace　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃I　don't　get　you。〃
　''What　don't　you　get；　girl？〃
　〃You；〃　Jennie　said。　〃You　baffle　me。　Most　guys　I　understand。　They　got　their　eye　on　the　ball　and　they're　always　for　making　points。　But　you；　you're　different。　You　already　got　everything。〃
　〃Not　everything。〃
　She　nodded　at　the　lights　of　Chicago　below　us。　〃By　that；　I　suppose　you　mean　you　don't　own　what's　down　there。〃
　〃That's　right。　I　don't　want　much　though；　I'm　satisfied　just　owning　what's　in　here。〃
　Her　eyes　grew　cloudy。　〃What　happens　if　we　go　boom？〃
　I　snapped　my　fingers。　〃What　the　hell！　Easy　e；　easy　go。〃
　〃Just　like　that？〃
　〃Just　like　that。〃
　She　glanced　out　of　the　window　for　a　moment；　then　turned　back　to　me。　〃I　guess　you　do　own　me　in　a　kind　of　way。〃
　〃I　wasn't　talking　about　you；〃　I　said。　〃I　was　talking　about　this　plane。〃
　〃I　know；　but　all　the　same；　it's　true。　You　do　own　everybody　who　works　for　you；　even　if　you　don't　feel　you　do。　Money　does　that。〃
　〃Money　does　lots　of　things　for　me；〃　I　said。
　〃Why　don't　you　let　it　buy　you　a　pair　of　shoes？〃
　I　looked　down　at　my　stockinged　feet。　〃Don't　worry；〃　I　said。　〃I　got　shoes。　They're　somewhere　on　this　plane。〃
　She　laughed；　then　became　serious　again。　〃Money　can　buy　you　time。　It　also　lets　you　make　people　over；　into　what　you　want　them　to　be。〃
　I　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　a　philosopher　as　well　as　an　actress。〃
　〃You　don't　know　that　I'm　an　actress　…　yet。〃
　〃You　better　be；〃　I　said。　〃Otherwise；　I'm　going　to　look　awful　foolish。〃
　Again；　her　eyes　were　serious。　〃You　wouldn't　like　that；　would　you？〃
　〃Nobody　likes　it；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　no　different　than　anybody　else。〃
　〃Then　why　do　you　do　it；　Jonas？　You　don't　need　to。　You　don't　need　the　money。　What　do　you　want　to　make　pictures　for？〃
　I　leaned　my　head　back　against　the　seat。　〃Maybe　because　I　want　them　to　remember　me　for　something　else　besides　gunpowder；　airplanes　and　plastic　dishes。〃
　〃They'll　remember　you　longer　for　that　than　a　movie。
　〃Will　they？〃　I　turned　my　head　to　look　at　her。　〃How　do　you　remember　a　man？　Because　of　the　thrill　he　gave　you？　Or　because　he　built　the　tallest　building　in　the　world？〃
　〃You　remember　all　those　things；〃　she　said　softly。　〃If　those　were　the　things　he　did。〃
　〃You　are　a　philosopher。　I　didn't　think　you　understood　men　so　well。〃
　She　laughed。　〃I've　been　a　woman　all　my　life。　And　men　are　the　first　thing　a　girl　tries　to　understand。〃
　I　felt　the　wheels　touch　and　we　were　on　the　ground。　Unconsciously　I　felt　myself　leaning　forward　against　the　wheel　to　keep　her　from　bucking。　Then　I　relaxed。　Habit　was　a　funny　thing。　You　landed　every　plane；　whether　you　were　at　the　controls　or　not。
　Jennie　shivered　and　pulled　her　thin　coat　around　her　as　the　first　cold　blast　of　air　came　through　the　open　door。　There　was　snow　on　the　ground　as　we　walked　across　the　landing　strip　to　the　terminal。
　A　chauffeur　stopped　me；　his　hand　touching　his　cap　respectfully。　〃Your　car's　right　outside；　Mr。　Cord。〃
　Jennie　was　still　shivering　as　we　got　into　the　car。　〃I　forgot　how　cold　winter　can　be；〃　she　said。
　In　forty…five　minutes；　we　were　at　the　Drake　Hotel。　The　assistant　manager　greeted　us　at　the　door。　〃Good　to　see　you　again；　Mr。　Cord。　Your　apartment　is　all　ready。　Your　office　called　from　the　Coast。〃　He　snapped　his　fingers　and　an　elevator　appeared　by　magic。　We　sped　up　with　him　in　solitary　splendor。
　〃I　took　the　liberty　of　ordering　a　hot　supper　for　you；　Mr。　Cord。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Carter；〃　I　said。　〃That　was　thoughtful　of　you。〃
　Carter　held　open　the　apartment　door。　A　small　table　was　set　up　in　the　dining　alcove　and　there　were　fresh；　gleaming　bottles　on　the　bar。
　〃If　you'll　just　call　down　when　you're　ready；　Mr。　Cord；　we'll　send　it　right　up。〃
　〃Give　us　a　few　minutes　to　wash　up；　Carter；〃　I　said。
　〃Very　good；　sir。〃
　I　glanced　at　Jennie；　who　was　still　shivering　from　the　cold。　〃Carter！〃
　〃Yes；　Mr。　Cord？〃
　〃Miss　Denton　obviously　wasn't　prepared　for　the　cold。　Do　you　think　we　could　manage　to　get　her　a　warm　coat？〃
　Carter　allowed　himself　a　brief　glance　at　Jennie。　〃I　believe　it　could　be　arranged；　sir。　Mink；　of　course？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　I　said。
　〃Very　good；　sir。　I'll　have　a　selection　up　here　shortly　for　mademoiselle。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Carter。〃
　He　bowed　and　the　door　closed　behind　him。　Jennie　turned　to　me；　her　eyes　wide。　〃That　does　it！　I　thought　nothing　could　impress　me　any　more　but　that　does。　Do　you　know　what　time　it　is？〃
　I　looked　at　my　watch。　〃Ten　after　twelve。〃
　〃Nobody；　but　nobody；　can　go　shopping　for　mink　coats　after　midnight。〃
　〃We're　not　going　shopping。　They're　being　sent　up　here。〃
　She　stared　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　nodded。　〃Oh；　I　see；〃　she　said。　〃That　makes　a　difference？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Tell　me。　What　makes　you　so　big　around　here？〃
　〃I　pay　my　rent。〃
　〃You　mean　you　keep　this　apartment　all　the　time？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　I　said。　〃I　never　know　when　I　might　be　in　Chicago。〃
　〃When　were　you　here　last？〃
　I　rubbed　my　cheek。　〃About　a　year　and　a　half　ago。〃
　The　telephone　rang。　I　picked　it　up；　then　held　it　out　to　Jennie。
　A　look　of　surprise　came　over　her　face。　〃For　me？〃　she　said。　〃But　nobody　knows　I'm　here。〃
　I　went　into　the　bathroom　and　closed　the　door。　When　I　came　out；　a　few　minutes　later；　she　was　sitting　on　the　side　of　the　bed；　a　dazed　look　on　her　face。　〃It　was　the　furrier；〃　she　said。　〃He　wanted　to　know　which　I　preferred　…　light　or　dark　mink。　Also；　what　size。〃
　〃What　size　did　you　tell　him？〃
　〃Ten。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃I　would　have　thought　you　took　a　twelve。　Nobody　ever　buys　a　mink　coat　size　ten。　It　hardly　pays。〃
　〃Like　I　said；　you're　crazy；〃　she　said。　Then　she　threw　herself　into　my　arms　and　hugged　me。　〃But　you're　crazy　nice。〃
　I　laughed　aloud。　Mink　will　do　it　every　time。
　
　8
　
　THE　MAN　FROM　THE　DETECTIVE　AGENCY　ARRIVED　WHILE　WE　W