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Sarah put a finger to her lips and pointed to the critic in front of them, who was writing furiously. "Let's go and have a drink," she said.
Sarah touched his arm as they walked slowly up the aisle. "Nick, it's my turn to seek your advice."
"On what?" said Da
She smiled. "No, I'm talking about the real world. Gerald Payne has recommended that I put some money in a property deal he's involved in. He mentioned your name, so I wondered if you thought it was a safe investment."
Da
"I never advise friends to put money in anything," said Da
"Good advice," said Sarah. "I'm grateful."
Da
"Let's avoid them," said Sarah. "Spencer Craig has never been my favorite man."
"Mine neither," said Da
"Hey, Sarah, Nick! We're over here," shouted Payne, waving furiously at them. "Come and have a glass of bubbly."
Da
"Of course," said Craig. "The man who's about to make us all a fortune."
"Let's hope so," said Da
"We'll need all the help we can get after tonight's performance," said Payne.
"Oh, it could have been worse," said Sarah as Da
"It's shit," said Craig. "So that's one of my investments down the drain."
"You didn't put too much into it, I hope," said Da
"Nothing compared to what I've invested in your little enterprise," said Craig, who couldn't take his eyes off Sarah.
Payne whispered conspiratorially to Da
"I'm delighted to hear it," said Da
"By the way," added Payne, "because of my political co
"That's kind of you, Gerald, but wouldn't you rather take Lawrence or Craig?" He still couldn't bring himself to call him Spencer.
"Larry's got a screen test that afternoon, and Spencer has an appointment with the Lord Chancellor at the other end of the building. We all know what that's about," he said, winking.
"Do we?" asked Da
"Oh, yes. Spencer's about to be made a QC," Payne whispered.
"Congratulations," said Da
"It's not official yet," said Craig, not even glancing in his direction.
"But it will be next Thursday," said Payne. "So, Nick, why don't you meet me outside the St. Stephen's entrance of the House of Commons at twelve thirty and we can listen to the minister's statement together before going off to celebrate our good fortune."
"I'll see you there," said Da
Sarah returned to her seat just as the curtain rose. The second half turned out to be a slight improvement on the first, but Da
When the curtain fell, the critic was the first out of the stalls, and Da
"I'm not going," said Sarah. "And I suspect not many of this lot will be either."
"It's my turn to seek your advice," said Da
"The pros can always smell a flop, so they'll avoid being seen at a party where people might think they're involved in some way." She paused. "I hope you didn't invest too much."
"Not enough to lose a night's sleep," said Da
"I won't forget your advice," she said, linking her arm in his. "So how do you feel about taking a lonely girl out to di
Da
"You're married?" asked Sarah.
"I only wish," said Da
"I only wish I'd met you before she did," said Sarah, unlinking her arm.
"That wouldn't have been possible," said Da
"Bring her along next time," said Sarah. "I'd like to meet her. Goodnight, Nick, and thanks again for your advice." She kissed him on the cheek and drifted off to join her brother.
Da
He joined the silent throng as they disgorged themselves from the theater as quickly as they could, but he still couldn't avoid a downcast Charlie Duncan, who had stationed himself by the exit. He gave Da
"Well, at least I won't have to spend any money on a closing-night party."
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
DANNY MET GERALD Payne outside the St. Stephen's entrance of the Palace of Westminster. It was his first visit to the House of Commons, and he was pla
"I have two tickets for the public gallery," Payne a
Once they had emptied their pockets and passed through the metal detector, Payne guided Da
"They don't have tickets," Payne explained as he marched past a row of visitors sitting on the green benches waiting patiently to be admitted to the public gallery. "They won't get in until late this evening, if at all."
Da
Payne seemed interested in only one thing: making sure he secured a good seat before the minister rose to make her statement from the dispatch box. Da
The policeman pointed to a corridor on his right. Payne marched off, and Da