It was then dinner-time.
"Give me three hours," said Frohman.
At one o'clock in the morning he called up Maugham at his house and accepted the play, which was probably the quickest reading and acceptance on record in England.
Another experience with Maugham shows how Frohman really inspired plays.
He was riding on the train with the playwright when he suddenly said to him:
"I want a new play from you."
"All right," said Maugham.
Frohman thought a moment, and suddenly flashed out:
"Why not rewrite 'The Taming of the Shrew' with a new background?"
"All right," said Maugham.