sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第37部分

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ore　color；　then　carefully　applied　false　eyelashes　over　her　own　lashes；　tilting　them　at　the　outer　edges　at　'a　forty…five…degree　angle。　She　brushed　some　Duo　adhesive　on　her　own　outer　lashes　and　joined　them　with　the　false　lashes；　making　the　eyes　look　larger。　To　give　the　lashes　a　fuller　look；　she　drew　fine　dots　on　her　lower　eyelid　beneath　her　own　lashes。　After　that；　Jill　applied　her　lipstick；　then　powdered　her　lips　before　applying　a　second　coat　of　lipstick。　She　applied　a　blusher　to　her　cheeks　and　dusted　her　face　with　powder；　avoiding　the　areas　around　the　eyes　where　the　powder　would　accentuate　the　faint　wrinkles。　Jill　sat　back　in　her　chair　and　studied　the　effect　in　the　mirror。　She　looked　beautiful。　Someday；　she　would　have　to　resort　to　the　tape　trick；　but　thank　God　that　was　still　years　away。　Jill　knew　of　older　actresses　who　used　the　trick。　They　fastened　tiny　pieces　of　Scotch　tape　to　their　skin　just　below　the　hairline。　Attached　to　these　tapes　were　threads　which　they　tied　around　their　heads　and　concealed　beneath　their　hair。　The　result　was　to　pull　the　slackened　skin　of　their　faces　taut；　giving　the　effect　of　a　face　lift　without　the　expense　and　pain　of　surgery。　A　variation　was　also　used　to　disguise　their　sagging　breasts。　A　piece　of　tape　attached　to　the　breast　on　one　end　and　to　the　firmer　flesh　higher　on　the　chest　on　the　other　provided　a　simple　temporary　solution　to　the　problem。　Jill's　breasts　were　still　firm。　She　finished　bing　her　soft；　black　hair；　took　one　final　look　in　the　mirror；　glanced　at　her　watch　and　realized　that　she　would　have　to　hurry。　She　had　an　interview　for　〃The　Toby　Temple　Show〃。　　
　Eddie　Berrigan；　the　casting　director　for　Toby's　show；　was　a　married　man。　He　had　made　arrangements　to　use　a　friend's　apartment　three　afternoons　a　week。　One　of　the　afteroons　was　reserved　for　Berrigan's　mistress　and　the　other　two　afternoons　were　reserved　for　what　he　called　〃old　talent〃　and　〃new　talent〃。　Jill　Castle　was　new　talent。　Several　buddies　had　told　Eddie　that　Jill　gave　a　fantastic　〃trip　around　the　world〃　and　wonderful　head。　Eddie　had　been　eager　to　try　her。　Now；　a　part　in　a　sketch　had　e　up　that　was　right　for　her。　All　the　character　had　to　do　was　look　sexy；　say　a　few　lines　and　exit。　Jill　read　for　Eddie　and　he　was　satisfied。　She　was　no　Kate　Hepbum；　but　the　role　didn't　call　for　one。　
　〃You're　in；〃　he　said。　
　〃Thank　you；　Eddie。〃　
　〃Here's　your　script。　Rehearsal　starts　tomorrow　morning；　ten　o'clock　sharp。　Be　on　time；　and　know　your　lines。〃　
　〃Of　course。〃　She　waited。　
　〃Er　　how　about　meeting　me　this　afternoon　for　a　cup　of　coffee？〃　　
　Jill　nodded。　
　〃A　friend　of　mine　has　an　apartment　at　ninety…five　thirteen　Argyle。　The　Allerton。〃　
　〃I　know　where　it　is；〃　Jill　said。　
　〃Apartment　Six　D。　Three　o'clock。〃　
　
　That　week's　talent　included　a　spectacular　dance　team　from　Argentina；　a　popular　rock　and　roll　group；　a　magician　who　made　everything　in　sight　disappear　and　a　top　vocalist。　The　only　one　missing　was　Toby　Temple。　Jill　asked　Eddie　Berrigan　about　Toby's　absence。　〃Is　he　sick？〃　Eddie　snorted。　〃He's　sick　like　a　fox。　The　peasants　rehearse　while　old　Toby　has　himself　a　ball。　He'll　show　up　Saturday　to　tape　the　show；　and　then　split。〃　
　Toby　Temple　appeared　on　Saturday　morning；　breezing　into　the　studio　like　a　king。　From　a　corner　of　the　stage；　Jill　watched　him　make　his　entrance；　followed　by　his　three　stooges；　Clifton　Lawrence　and　a　couple　of　old…time　ics。　The　spectacle　filled　Jill　with　contempt。　She　knew　all　about　Toby　Temple。　He　was　an　egomaniac　who；　according　to　rumor；　bragged　that　he　had　been　to　bed　with　every　pretty　actress　in　Hollywood。　No　one　ever　said　no　to　him。　Oh；　yes；　Jill　knew　about　the　Great　Toby　Temple。　The　director；　a　short；　nervous　man　named　Harry　Durkin；　introduced　the　cast　to　Toby。　Toby　had　worked　with　most　of　them。　Hollywood　was　a　small　village；　and　the　faces　soon　became　familiar。　Toby　had　not　met　Jill　Castle　before。　She　looked　beautiful　in　a　biege　linen　dress；　cool　and　elegant。　
　〃What　are　you　doing；　honey？〃　Toby　asked。　
　〃I'm　in　the　astronaut　sketch；　Mr。　Temple。〃　
　He　gave　her　a　warm　smile　and　said；　〃My　friends　call　me　Toby。〃　
　The　cast　started　to　work。　The　rehearsal　went　unusually　well；　and　Durkin　quickly　realized　why。　Toby　was　showing　off　for　Jill。　He　had　laid　every　other　girl　in　the　show；　and　Jill　was　a　new　challenge。　The　sketch　that　Toby　did　with　Jill　was　the　high　point　of　the　show。　Toby　gave　Jill　a　couple　of　additional　lines　and　a　funny　piece　of　business。　When　rehearsal　was　over；　Toby　said　to　her；　
　〃How　about　a　little　drink　in　my　dressing　room？〃　
　〃Thank　you；　I　don't　drink。〃　Jill　smiled　and　walked　away。　She　had　a　date　with　a　casting　director　and　that　was　more　important　than　Toby　Temple。　He　was　a　one…shot。　A　casting　director　meant　steady　employment。　When　they　taped　the　show　that　evening　it　was　an　enormous　success；　one　of　the　best　shows　Toby　had　ever　done。　
　〃Another　smash；〃　Clifton　told　Toby。　〃That　astronaut　sketch　was　top　drawer。〃　
　Toby　grinned。　〃Yeah。　I　like　that　little　chick　in　it。　She's　got　something。〃　
　〃She's　pretty；〃　Clifton　said。　Every　week　there　was　a　different　girl。　They　all　had　something；　and　they　all　went　to　bed　with　Toby　and　became　yesterday's　conversation　piece。　
　〃Fix　it　for　her　to　have　supper　with　us。　Cliff。〃　It　was　not　a　request。　It　was　a　mand。　A　few　years　ago；　Clifton　would　have　told　Toby　to　do　it　himself。　But　these　days；　when　Toby　asked　you　to　do　something；　you　did　it。　He　was　a　king　and　this　was　his　kingdom；　and　those　who　did　not　want　to　be　exiled　stayed　in　his　favor。　
　〃Of　course；　Toby；〃　Clifton　said。　〃I'll　arrange　it。〃　
　Clifton　walked　down　the　hall　to　the　dressing　room　where　the　girl　dancers　and　female　members　of　the　cast　changed。　He　rapped　once　on　the　door　and　walked　in。　There　were　a　dozen　girls　in　the　room　in　various　stages　of　undress。　They　paid　no　attention　to　him　except　to　call　out　greetings。　Jill　had　removed　her　makeup　and　was　getting　into　her　street　clothes。　Clifton　walked　up　to　her。　
　〃You　were　very　good；〃　he　said。　
　Jill　glanced　at　him　in　the　mirror　without　interest。　〃Thanks。〃　At　one　time　she　would　have　been　excited　to　be　this　dose　to　Clifton　Lawrence。　He　could　have　opened　every　door　in　Hollywood　for　her。　Now　everyone　knew　that　he　was　simply　Toby　Temple's　stooge。　
　〃I　have　some　good　news　for　you。　Mr。　Temple　wants　you　to　join　him　for　supper。〃　Jill　lightly　tousled　her　hair　with　her　fingertips　and　said；　
　〃Tell　him　I'm　tired。　I'm　going　to　bed。〃　And　she　walked　out。　
　
　Supper　that　evening　was　a　misery。　Toby；　Clifton　Lawrence　and　Durkin；　the　director；　were　in　La　Rue's　at　a　front　booth。　Durkin　had　suggested　inviting　a　couple　of　the　showgirls；　｜but　Toby　had　furiously　rejected　the　idea。　
　The　table　captain　was　saying；　
　〃Are　you　ready　to　order；　Mr。　Temple？〃　
　Toby　pointed　to　Clifton　and　said；　〃Yeah。　Give　the　idiot　here　the　order　of　tongue。〃　
　Clifton　joined　the　laughter　of　the　others　at　the　table；　pretending　that　Toby　was　simply　being　amusing。　Toby　snapped；　
　〃I　asked　you　to　do　a　simple　thing　like　inviting　a　girl　to　dinner。　Who　told　you　to　scare　her　off？〃　
　〃She　was　tired；〃　Clifton　explained。　〃She　said　〃　
　〃No　broad　is　too　tired　to　have　dinner　with　me。　You　must　have　said　something　that　pissed　her　off。〃　Toby　had　raised　his　voice。　The　people　at　the　next　booth　had　turned　to　stare。　Toby　gave　them　his　boyish　smile　and　said；　〃This　is　a　farewell　dinner；　folks。〃　He　pointed　at　Clifton。　〃He's　donated　his　brain　to　the　zoo。〃　There　was　laughter　from　the　other　table。　Clifton；　forced　a　grin；　but　under　the　table　his　hands　were　clenched。　〃Do　you　want　to　know　how　dumb　he　is？〃　Toby　asked　the　people　at　the　adjoining　booth。　〃In　Poland；　they　tell　jokes　about　him。〃　The　laughter　increased。　Clifton　wanted　to　get　up　and　walk　out；　but　he　did　not　dare。　Durkin　sat　there　embarrassed；　too　wise　to　say　anything。　Toby　now　had　the　attention　of　several　nearby　booths。　He　raised　his　voice　again；　giving　them　his　charming　smile。　〃Cliff　Lawrence　here　gets　his　stupidity　honestly。　When　he　was　born；　his　parents　had　a　big　fight　over　him。　His　mother　claimed　it　wasn't　her　baby。〃　
　Mercifully；　the　evening　finally　came　to　an　end。　But　tomorrow　Clifton　Lawrence　stories　were　going　to　be　told　all　over　town。　Clifton　Lawrence　lay　in　his　bed　that　night；　unable　to　sleep。　He　asked　himself　why　he　allowed　T