sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第42部分

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d　received　a　telephone　call　from　Cissy；　saying　she　was　not　returning。　She　had　fallen　in　love。　David　could　not　believe　his　good　fortune。　
　〃That's　　that's　wonderful；〃　he　managed　to　slammer。　〃I　hope　you　and　the　doctor　will　be　happy。〃　
　〃Oh；　it's　not　the　doctor；〃　Cissy　replied。　〃It's　someone　who　owns　a　little　plantation　here。　He　looks　exactly　like　you；　David。　The　only　difference　is　that　he　loves　me。〃　
　The　crackling　of　the　radio　interrupted　his　thoughts。　
　〃Lear　Three　Alpha　Papa；　this　is　Los　Angeles　Approach　Control。　You're　clear　for　approach　to　Runway　Twenty…five　Left。　There　will　be　a　United　seven…oh…seven　behind　you。　When　you　land；　please　taxi　to　the　ramp　on　your　right。〃　
　〃Roger。〃　David　began　to　make　his　descent；　and　his　heart　started　to　pound。　He　was　on　his　way　to　find　Jill；　to　tell　her　he　still　loved　her；　to　ask　her　to　marry　him。　He　was　walking　through　the　terminal　when　he　passed　the　newsstand　and　saw　the　headline：　〃Toby　Temple　weds　actress〃。　He　read　the　story　twice　and　then　turned　and　went　into　the　airport　bar。　He　stayed　drunk　for　three　days　and　then　flew　back　to　Texas。　
　
　
　It　was　a　storybook　honeymoon。　Toby　and　Jill　flew　in　a　private　jet　to　Las　Hadas；　where　they　were　the　guests　of　the　Patinos　at　their　fairyland　resort　carved　out　of　the　Mexican　jungle　and　beach。　The　newlyweds　were　given　a　private　villa　surrounded　by　cacti；　hibiscus　and　brilliantly　colored　bouganvillea；　where　exotic　birds　serenaded　them　all　night。　They　spent　ten　days　exploring　and　yachting　and　being　partied。　They　ate　delicious　dinners　at　the　Legazpi　prepared　by　gourmet　chefs　and　swam　in　the　fresh…water　pools。　Jill　shopped　at　the　exquisite　boutiques　at　the　Plaza。　From　Mexico　they　flew　to　Biarritz　where　they　stayed　at　L'Hotel　du　Palais；　the　spectacular　palace　that　Napoleon　III　built　for　his　Empress　Eugenie。　The　honeymooners　gambled　at　the　casinos　and　went　to　the　bullfights　and　fished　and　made　love　all　night。　From　the　Cote　Basque　they　drove　east　to　Gistaad；　thirty…five　hundred　feet　above　sea　level　in　the　Bernese　Oberiand。　They　took　sightseeing　flights　among　the　peaks；　skimming　Mont　Blanc　and　the　Matterhom。　They　skied　the　dazzling　white　slopes　and　rode　dog　sleds　and　attended　fondue　parties　and　danced。　Toby　had　never　been　so　happy。　He　had　found　the　woman　to　make　his　life　plete。　He　was　no　longer　lonely。　
　Toby　could　have　continued　the　honeymoon　forever；　but　Jill　was　eager　to　get　home。　She　was　not　interested　in　any　of　these　places；　nor　in　any　of　these　people。　She　felt　like　a　newly　crowned　queen　who　was　being　kept　from　her　country。　Jill　Castle　was　burning　to　return　to　Hollywood。　Mrs。　Toby　Temple　had　scores　to　settle。　
　
BOOK　THREE
　There　is　a　smell　to　failure。　It　is　a　stench　that　clings　like　a　miasma。　Just　as　dogs　can　detect　the　odor　of　fear　in　a　human　being；　so　people　can　sense　when　a　man　is　on　his　way　down。　Particularly　in　Hollywood。　Everyone　in　the　Business　knew　that　Clifton　Lawrence　was　finished；　even　before　he　knew　it。　They　could　smell　it　in　the　air　around　him。　Clifton　had　not　heard　from　Toby　or　Jill　in　the　week　since　they　had　returned　from　their　honeymoon。　He　had　sent　an　expensive　gift　and　had　left　three　telephone　messages；　which　had　been　ignored。　Jill。　Somehow　she　had　managed　to　turn　Toby's　mind　against　him。　Clifton　knew　that　he　had　to　effect　a　truce。　He　and　Toby　meant　too　much　to　each　other　to　let　anyone　e　between　them。　
　Clifton　drove　out　to　the　house　on　a　morning　when　he　knew　Toby　would　be　at　the　studio。　Jill　saw　him　ing　up　the　driveway　and　opened　the　door　for　him。　She　looked　stunningly　beautiful；　and　he　said　so。　She　was　friendly。　They　sat　in　the　garden　and　had　coffee；　and　she　told　him　about　the　honeymoon　and　the　places　they　had　been。　She　said；　
　〃I'm　sorry　Toby　hasn't　returned　your　calls；　Cliff。　You　can't　believe　how　frantic　it's　been　around　here。〃　She　smiled　apologetically；　and　Clifton　knew　then　that　he　had　been　wrong　about　her。　She　was　not　his　enemy。　
　〃I'd　like　us　to　start　fresh　and　be　friends；〃　he　said。　
　〃Thank　you；　Cliff。　So　would　I。〃　
　Clifton　felt　an　immeasurable　sense　of　relief。　〃I　want　to　give　a　dinner　party　for　you　and　Toby。　I'll　take　over　the　private　room　at　the　Bistro。　A　week　from　Saturday。　Black　tie；　a　hundred　of　your　most　intimate　friends。　How　does　that　sound？〃　
　〃Lovely。　Toby　will　be　pleased。〃
　
　Jill　waited　until　the　afternoon　of　the　party　to　telephone　and　say；　
　〃I'm　so　sorry。　Cliff。　I'm　afraid　I'm　not　going　to　be　able　to　make　it　tonight。　I'm　a　little　tired。　Toby　thinks　I　should　stay　home　and　rest。〃　
　Clifton　managed　to　hide　his　feelings。　〃I'm　sorry　about　that；　Jill；　but　I　understand。　Toby　will　be　able　to　e；　won't　he？〃　
　He　heard　her　sigh　over　the　telephone。　〃I'm　afraid　not；　dear　boy。　He　won't　go　anywhere　without　me。　But　you　have　a　nice　party。〃　
　And　she　hung　up。　It　was　too　late　to　call　off　the　party。　The　bill　was　three　thousand　dollars。　But　it　cost　Clifton　much　more　than　that。　He　had　been　stood　up　by　the　guest　of　honor；　his　one　and　only　client；　and　everyone　there；　the　studios　heads；　the　stars；　the　directors　　all　the　people　who　mattered　in　Hollywood　　were　aware　of　it。　Clifton　tried　to　cover　up　by　saying　that　Toby　was　not　feeling　well。　It　was　the　worst　thing　he　could　have　done。　When　he　picked　up　a　copy　of　the　Herald　Examiner　the　next　afternoon；　there　was　a　photograph　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Toby　Temple　that　had　been　taken　at　the　Dodgers　Stadium　the　night　before。　
　Clifton　Lawrence　knew　now　that　he　was　fighting　for　his　life。　If　Toby　dropped　him；　there　would　be　no　one　around　to　pick　him　up。　None　of　the　big　agencies　would　take　him　on；　because　he　could　bring　them　no　clients；　and　he　could　not　bear　the　thought　of　starting　all　over　again　on　his　own。　It　was　too　late　for　that。　He　had　to　find　a　way　to　make　peace　with　Jill。　He　telephoned　Jill　and　told　her　he　would　like　to　e　to　the　house　to　talk　to　her。　
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　telling　Toby　last　night　that　we　haven't　seen　enough　of　you　lately。〃　
　〃I'll　be　over　in　fifteen　minutes；〃　Clifton　said。　
　He　walked　over　to　the　liquor　cabinet　and　poured　himself　a　double　Scotch。　He　had　been　doing　too　much　of　that　lately。　It　was　a　bad　habit　to　drink　during　a　working　day；　but　who　was　he　kidding？　What　work？　Every　day　he　received　important　offers　for　Toby；　but　he　could　not　get　the　great　man　to　sit　down　and　even　discuss　them　with　him。　In　the　past；　they　had　talked　over　everything。　He　remembered　all　the　wonderful　times　they　had　had；　the　trips　they　had　taken；　the　parties　and　the　laughs　and　the　girls。　They　had　been　as　close　as　twins。　Toby　had　needed　him；　had　counted　on　him。　And　now。。。　Clifton　poured　another　drink　and　was　pleased　to　see　his　hands　were　not　trembling　so　much。　When　Clifton　arrived　at　the　Temples'　house；　Jill　was　seated　on　the　terrace；　having　coffee。　She　looked　up　and　smiled　as　she　saw　him　approach。　You're　a　salesman；　Clifton　told　himself。　Sell　her　on　you。　
　〃It's　nice　to　see　you。　Cliff。　Sit　down。〃　
　〃Thanks；　Jill。〃　He　took　a　seat　across　from　her　at　a　large　wrought…iron　table　and　studied　her。　She　was　wearing　a　white　summer　dress；　and　the　contrast　with　her　black　hair　and　golden；　tanned　skin　was　stunning。　She　looked　younger；　and　…　the　only　word　he　could　think　of　somehow　…　innocent。　She　was　watching　him　with　warm；　friendly　eyes。　
　〃Would　you　like　some　breakfast。　Cliff？〃　
　〃No；　thanks。　I　ate　hours　ago。〃　
　〃Toby　isn't　here。〃　
　〃I　know。　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　alone。〃　
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　
　〃Accept　my　apology；〃　Clifton　urged。　He　had　never　begged　anyone　for　anything　in　his　life；　but　he　was　begging　now。　〃We　…I　got　off　on　the　wrong　foot。　Maybe　it　was　my　fault。　It　probably　was。　Toby's　been　my　client　and　my　friend　for　so　long　that　I　…　I　wanted　to　protect　him。　Can　you　understand　that？〃　
　Jill　nodded；　her　brown　eyes　fixed　on　him；　and　said；　〃Of　course。　Cliff。〃　
　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　don't　know　whether　he　ever　told　you　the　story；　but　I'm　the　one　who　got　Toby　started。　I　knew　he　was　going　to　be　a　big　star　the　first　time　I　saw　him。〃　He　saw　that　he　had　her　full　attention。　〃I　handled　a　lot　of　important　clients　then；　Jill。　I　let　them　all　go　so　that　I　could　concentrate　on　Toby's　career。〃　
　〃Toby's　talked　to　me　about　how　much　you've　done　for　him；〃　she　said。　
　〃Has　he？〃　He　hated　the　eagerness　in　his　voice。　
　Jill　smiled。　〃He　told　me　about　the　day　he