Edgar Wallace

“ THERE is an uninteresting part to every theatre—a part which is so isolated from the luxury of the auditorium and from the glamour and mystery of the stage as to be associated with neither. It is usually reached from a frowsy little side-street through an ugly narrow entrance. The stone stairs are steep, and the flagged landings are restricted to the accommodation of one portly tenor and a large soprano. ”

“ Frank drew himself up.
"It is called a 'play,' Mr. Carfew," he said stiffly, "and I'd like to say that I'm not used to being addressed in this manner you employ. I've been managing houses now for twenty years, and I'm supposed to be the very best man in the profession. I've refused good offers to come to you. Every proprietor in London is after me." ”

“ A young man of sanguine temperament who finds a three hundred night success at the first time of asking may be excused the conviction that "failure" is a word which Fate has obligingly expunged from the lexicon of life.
Carfew had taken the Gorgon Theatre without one single doubt as to the wisdom of his proceedings. Parker, who was his broker, broke the habits of a lifetime and came westward in the forenoon, at Carfew's earnest request.
He climbed the interminable stairs, examined with great earnestness the notices pasted to Carfew's door, and found his client in his important occupation. ”

“ The author was unknown.
"Theophilus Grudge," said Carfew impressively. "Have you ever heard of him?"
"No," confessed Parker. "Is it a man?"
"The name of Theo Grudge," said Carfew, in a voice shaken by emotion, "will ring through London. He has the original view. This play may not be popular. I do not aim at popularity. My object is to raise the theatrical art."
Parker yawned insolently.
The play, went on Carfew, was about two women and a man. One of the women loved the man, and the other was married to him. ”

“ Seriously, Carfew, you are rather a wonder. How do you do these things?"
"Parker," said Carfew solemnly, "I am the best producer in Europe. I've got Reinhardt lashed to the mast. I'm the idol of the profession, and the people will do anything for me. I just know what the public want, and I go for it. Do you get me, Steve?"
"I get you," said Parker, without exactly comprehending what he was getting.
{Copyright, 1914, by Edgar Wallace, in the United States of America.}
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929. ”

“ No doors lead from stairway or landing. The walls are solid and unpromising. They are dull yellow, and have a make-believe dado of dull red, with an inch-deep black line to mark where wall and dado meet. ”

“ These are to the effect that callers can only be seen by appointment, that silence is to be regarded as a polite form of refusal, that artistes will be kept to the strict terms of their contracts, and that no gagging of a political character will be permitted. ”