Theatre Page 0,39
with her and smoke a cigarette or two till she wanted to go to bed. She could hardly refuse him that. The bed was already made up and they sat down on it. In a few minutes the conductor came back with a bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses. It was an odd little adventure and Julia was enjoying it. It was wonderfully polite of him, all that, ah, those foreigners, they knew how to treat a great actress. Of course that was the sort of thing that happened to Bernhardt every day. And Siddons, when she went into a drawing-room everyone stood up as though she were royalty. He complimented her on her beautiful French. Born in Jersey and educated in France? Ah, that explained it. But why hadn't she chosen to act in French rather than in English? She would have as great a reputation as Duse if she had. She reminded him of Duse, the same magnificent eyes and the pale skin, and in her acting the same emotion and the wonderful naturalness.
They half finished the bottle of champagne and Julia realized that it was very late.
"I really think I ought to go to bed now."
"I'll leave you."
He got up and kissed her hand. When he was gone Julia bolted the door and undressed. Putting out all the lights except the one just behind her head she began to read. Presently there was a knock at the door.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you. I left my toothbrush in the lavabo. May I get it?"
"I'm in bed."
"I can't go to sleep unless I brush my teeth."
"Oh well, he's clean anyway."
With a little shrug of her shoulders Julia slipped her hand to the door and drew back the bolt. It would be stupid in the circumstances to be prudish. He came in, went into the lavatory and in a moment came out, brandishing a toothbrush. She had noticed it when she brushed her own teeth, but thought it belonged to the person who had the compartment next door. At that period adjoining compartments shared a lavatory. The Spaniard seemed to catch sight of the bottle.
"I'm so thirsty, do you mind if I have a glass of champagne?"
Julia was silent for a fraction of a second. It was his champagne and his compartment. Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
"Of course not."
He poured himself out a glass, lit a cigarette and sat down on the edge of her bed. She moved a little to give him more room. He accepted the situation as perfectly natural.
"You couldn't possibly have slept in that carriage," he said. "There's a man there who's a heavy breather. I'd almost rather he snored. If he snored one could wake him."
"I'm so sorry."
"Oh, it doesn't matter. If the worst comes to the worst I'll curl up in the corridor outside your door."
"He can hardly expect me to ask him to come and sleep in here," Julia said to herself. "I'm beginning to think this was all a put-up job. Nothing doing, my lad." And then aloud. "Romantic, of course, but uncomfortable."
"You're a terribly attractive woman."
She was just as glad that her nightdress was pretty and that she had put no cream on her face. She had in point of fact not troubled to take off her make-up. Her lips were brightly scarlet, and with the reading light behind her she well knew that she did not look her worst. But she answered ironically.
"If you think that because you've given up your compartment to me I'm going to let you sleep with me, you're mistaken."
"Just as you say, of course. But why not?"
"I'm not that sort of terribly attractive woman."
"What sort of woman are you then?"
"A faithful wife and a devoted mother."
He gave a little sigh.
"Very well. Then I'll say good night to you."
He crushed the stub of his cigarette on the ashtray and took her hand and kissed it. He slowly ran his lips up her arm. It gave Julia a funny little sensation. The beard slightly tickled her skin. Then he leant over and kissed her lips. His beard had a somewhat musty smell, which she found peculiar; she was not sure if it revolted or thrilled her. It was odd when she came to think of it, she had never been kissed by a man with a beard before. It seemed strangely indecent. He snapped out the light.
He did not leave her till a