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Mr. Munro warned Sir Nicholas that Galbraith had a reputation for taking his time, but assured him that he would keep snapping at his ankles whenever the opportunity arose. Da
Da
During the past week, Da
He picked up The Times-brought in by Molly every morning-and turned to an article he'd spotted on the Arts pages. An American collector had bought a Klimt for fifty-one million pounds in an auction at somewhere called Sotheby's.
Da
Da
Da
He had phoned the Garrick the previous day and booked a seat for a matinee performance of The Importance of Being Earnest. They had told him to pick up his ticket from the box office fifteen minutes before the curtain rose. Da
He opened his program and read for the first time about how Oscar Wilde's play had been an instant hit in 1895 when it was first performed at the St. James's Theatre in London. He had to keep standing up to allow other people to take their seats in row H as a steady stream of ticket holders made their way into the theater.
By the time the lights went down, the Garrick was almost full and the majority of seats seemed to be occupied by young girls. When the curtain rose, Lawrence Davenport was nowhere to be seen, but Da
Da
Like the young girls in the audience, Da
He followed the jostling crowd into a packed bar and waited in a long queue while one barman tried manfully to serve all his would-be customers. Finally Da
"What did you think of Larry?" asked the first.
"He's wonderful," came back the reply. "Pity he's gay."
"But are you enjoying the play?"
"Oh, yes. I'm coming again on closing night."
"How did you manage to get tickets?"
"One of the stagehands lives in our street."
"Does that mean you'll be going to the party afterwards?"
"Only if I agree to be his date for the night."
"Do you think you'll get to meet Larry?"
"It's the only reason I said I'd go out with him."
A bell sounded three times and several customers quickly downed their drinks before drifting back into the auditorium to take their seats. Da
When the curtain rose again, Da
When the curtain fell and the cast took their bows, the audience rose to their feet, shouting and screaming, just as Beth had done that night, but a different kind of scream. It only made Da
After the final curtain call, the chattering crowd spilled out of the theater onto the pavement. Some headed straight for the stage door, but Da
The box office manager smiled. "Enjoy the show?"
"Yes, thank you. Do you by any chance have a ticket for the closing night?"
"Afraid not, sir. Sold out."
"Just a single?" said Da
The box office manager checked his screen and studied the seating plan for the last performance. "I do have a single seat in row W."
"I'll take it," said Da
"No, I'm afraid not," said the manager with a smile. "That's by invitation only." He swiped Da
"Yes, that's right," said Da
The manager printed out a single ticket, took an envelope from below the counter and slipped the ticket inside.
Da