Twenty-four hours later he gave me his answer. “I was out of line. I was flattered that Mr. Sinatra wanted me, but I’d rather stand on my own feet.”
* * * * *
I sometimes wonder about the Leader. His face lit up like a neon sign when he broke the news to me that he was going to marry Juliet Prowse, the South African dancer to whom he was engaged for an hour or so. “I haven’t seen that light in your eye for ten years,” I told him.
But I suspect the men around Frank went to work against Juliet. It’s easy enough to work the trick if you’re determined and unscrupulous. A word dropped into the conversation here and there will plant the doubts. “Do you think she really goes for you, Frank?” “She’ll probably figure on keeping her career.” “You should have met that family of hers—strictly nothing.” Frank was convinced eventually that Juliet wasn’t for him.
With all his talents and power, I sometimes wonder who’s the Leader and who’s being led.
Four
When Louella Parsons heard that I’d started work on this book, she telephoned to ask what its title was going to be. “Come, Louella,” I said, “you don’t expect me to reveal that to you, do you?”
“I hoped you would. And I hope you’ll be kind to me in your book because I was very nice to you in mine.”
“You certainly were—you got the facts about me so mixed up that I haven’t finished reading it.”