Margaret interposed.
"While those two are thinking of some more nice things to say to each other, I should like to know, Mr. Winton, what you really think."
"I am afraid, Miss Wallace, that my point of view would be described by Staines as utilitarian. I propose to conduct my theatre--when I get it--on a commercial basis."
"One takes it for granted that an actor-manager is commercial or nothing."
"If he isn't commercial, my dear Staines, he's less than nothing--he's a bankrupt. No one loves a bankrupt, not even your artistic soul. My intention is to get a theatre; to have it properly equipped; to give the public as good plays as I can get; to have them as well acted as circumstances permit. If Mrs. Lamb is willing to place me in a position to carry out my intention--on my own terms--I don't know that I have any serious objection to her playing a part in my initial venture, particularly as that happens to be a part which, as Talfourd is aware, I have not hitherto been able to fit with a quite adequate representative. I realise that the position is not so simple as it appears, and am conscious that I run the risk of being overshadowed by the lady's personality. But that is certainly my risk rather than Talfourd's, and I am willing to run it in order to gain the end I have in view."
"Then you say, let Mrs. Lamb play Lady Glover?"
"I do, since I incline to the opinion that she would not play it in a fashion which would militate against the success of the piece."
"You hear, Harry?"
"I do; I have heard Winton on the point before."
"Then why don't you leave matters entirely in his hands, and let him arrange everything?"