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a bad actor。 He could labour till doomsday neatening and sharpening； but he could not make a silk purse of the sow's ear that was Diane Duvall。
With all the skill of an acrobat she contrived to skirt every significance； to ignore every opportunity to move the audience； to avoid every nuance the playwright would insist on putting in her way。 It was a performance heroic in its ineptitude； reducing the delicate characterization Galloway had been at pains to create to a single…note whine。 This Viola was soap…opera pap； less human than the hedges； and about as green。
The critics would slaughter her。
Worse than that； Lichfield would be disappointed。 To his considerable surprise the impact of Lichfield's appearance hadn't dwindled； Galloway couldn't forget his actorly projection； his posing； his rhetoric。 It had moved him more deeply than he was prepared to admit； and the thought of this Twelfth Night； with this Viola； being the swan…song of Lichfield's beloved Elysium perturbed and embarrassed him。 It seemed somehow ungrateful。
He'd been warned often enough about a director's burdens； long before he became seriously embroiled in the profession。 His dear departed guru at the Actors〃 Centre； Wellbeloved （he of the glass eye）； had told Galloway from the beginning： 〃A director is the loneliest creature on God's earth。 He knows what's good and bad in a show； or he should if he's worth his salt； and he has to carry that information around with him and keep smiling。〃 It hadn't seemed so difficult at the time。
〃This job isn't about succeeding；〃 Wellbeloved used to say； 〃it's about learning not to fall on your sodding face。〃 Good advice as it turned out。 He could still see Well…beloved handing out that wisdom on a plate； his bald head shiny； his living eye glittering with cynical delight。 No man on earth； Galloway had thought； loved theatre with more passion than Wellbeloved； and surely no man could have been more scathing about its pretensions。
It was almost one in the morning by the time they'd finished the wretched run…through； gone through the notes； and separated； glum and mutually resentful； into the night。 Galloway wanted none of their pany tonight： No late drinking in one or others〃 digs； no mutual ego…massage。 He had a cloud of gloom all to himself； and neither wine； women nor song would disperse it。 He could barely bring himself to look Diane in the face。 His notes to her； broadcast in front of the rest of the cast； had been acidic。 Not that it would do much good。
In the foyer； he met Tallulah； still spry though it was long after an old lady's bedtime。
〃Are you locking up tonight？〃 he asked her； more for something to say than because he was actually curious。
〃I always lock up；〃 she said。 She was well over seventy： too old for her job in the box office； and too tenacious to be easily removed。 But then that was all academic now； wasn't it？ He wondered what her response would be when she heard the news of the closure。 It would probably break her brittle heart。 Hadn't Hammersmith once told him Tallulah had been at the theatre since she was a girl of fifteen？
〃Well； goodnight Tallulah。〃 She gave him a tiny nod； as always。 Then she reached out and took Galloway's arm。
〃Yes？〃
〃Mr Lichfield。。。〃 she began。
〃What about Mr Lichfield？〃
〃He didn't like the rehearsal。〃
〃He was in tonight？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 she replied； as though Galloway was an imbecile for thinking otherwise； 〃of course he was in。〃
〃I didn't see him。〃
〃Well。。。 no matter。 He wasn't very pleased。〃 Galloway tried to sound indifferent。
〃It can't be helped。〃
〃Your show is very close to his heart。〃
〃I realize that；〃 said Galloway； avoiding Tallulah's accusing looks。 He had quite enough to keep him awake tonight； without her disappointed tones ringing in his ears。
He loosed his arm； and made for the door。 Tallulah made no attempt to stop him。 She just said： 〃You should have seen Constantia。〃 Constantia？ Where had he heard that name？ Of course； Lichfield's wife。
〃She was a wonderful Viola。〃 He was too tired for this mooning over dead actresses； she was dead wasn't she？ He had said she was dead； hadn't he？
〃Wonderful；〃 said Tallulah again。
〃Goodnight； Tallulah。 I'll see you tomorrow。〃 The old crone didn't answer。 If she was offended by his brusque manner； then so be it。 He left her to her plaints and faced the street。
It was late November； and chilly。 No balm in the night air； just the smell of tar from a freshly laid road； and grit in the wind。
Galloway pulled his jacket collar up around the back of his neck； and hurried off to the questionable refuge of Murphy's Bed and Breakfast。
In the foyer Tallulah turned her back on the cold and dark of the outside world； and shuffled back into the temple of dreams。 It smelt so weary now： stale with use and age； like her own body。 It was time to let natural processes take their toll； there was no point in letting things run beyond their allotted span。 That was as true of buildings as of people。 But the Elysium had to die as it had lived； in glory。
Respectfully； she drew back the red curtains that covered the portraits in the corridor that led from foyer to stalls。 Barrymore； Irving： great names and great actors。 Stained and faded pictures perhaps； but the memories were as sharp and as refreshing as spring water。 And in pride of place； the last of the line to be unveiled； a portrait of Constantia Lichfield。 A face of transcendent beauty； a bone structure to make an anatomist weep。
She had been far too young for Lichfield of course； and that had been part of the tragedy of it。 Lichfield the Svengali； a man twice her age； had been capable of giving his brilliant beauty everything she desired； fame； money； panionship。 Everything but the gift she most required： life itself。
She'd died before she was yet twenty； a cancer in the breast。 Taken so suddenly it was still difficult to believe she'd gone。
Tears brimmed in Tallulah's eyes as she remembered that lost and wasted genius。 So many parts Constantia would have illuminated had she been spared。 Cleopatra； Hedda； Rosalind； Electra。 。
But it wasn't to be。 She'd gone； extinguished like a candle in a hurricane； and for those who were left behind life was a slow and joyless march through a cold land。 There were mornings now； stirring to another dawn； when she would turn over and pray to die in her sleep。
The tears were quite blinding her now； she was awash。 And oh dear； there was somebody behind her； probably Mr Galloway back for something； and here was she； sobbing fit to burst； behaving like the silly old woman she knew he thought her to be。 A young man like him； what did he understand about the pain of the years； the deep ache of irretrievable loss？ That wouldn't e to him for a while yet。 Sooner than he thought； but a while nevertheless。
〃Tallie；〃 somebody said。
She knew who it was。 Richard Walden Lichfield。 She turned round and he was standing no more than six feet from her； as fine a figure of a man as ever she remembered him to be。 He must be twenty years older than she was； but age didn't seem to bow him。
She felt ashamed of her tears。
〃Tallie；〃 he said kindly； 〃I know it's a little late； but I felt you'd surely want to say hello。〃
〃Hello？〃 The tears were clearing； and now she saw Lichfield's panion； standing a respectful foot or two behind him； partially obscured。 The figure stepped out of Lichfield's shadow and there was a luminous； fine…boned beauty Tallulah recognized as easily as her own reflection。 Time broke in pieces； and reason deserted the world。 Longed…for faces were suddenly back to fill the empty nights； and offer fresh hope to a life grown weary。 Why should she argue with the evidence of her eyes？
It was Constantia； the radiant Constantia； who was looping her arm through Lichfield's and nodding gravely at Tallulah in greeting。
Dear； dead Constantia。
The rehearsal was called for nine…thirty the following morning。 Diane Duvall made an entrance her customary half hour late。 She looked as though she hadn't slept all night。
〃Sorry I'm late；〃 she said； her open vowels oozing down the aisle towards the stage。
Galloway was in no mood for foot…kissing。
〃We've got an opening tomorrow；〃 he snapped； 〃and everybody's been kept waiting by you。〃
〃Oh really？〃 she fluttered； trying to be devastating。 It was too early in the morning； and the effect fell on stony ground。
〃OK； we're going from the top；〃 Galloway announced； 〃and everybody please have your copies and a pen。 I've got a list of cuts here and I want them rehearsed in by lunchtime。 Ryan； have you got the prompt copy？〃 There was a hurried exchange with the ASM and an apologetic negative from Ryan。
〃Well get it。 And I don't want any plaints from anyone； it's too late in the day。 Last night's run was a wake； not a performance。 The cues took forever； the business was ragged。 I'm going to cut； and it's not going to be very palatable。〃 It wasn't。 The plaints came； warning or no； the arguments； the promises； the sour faces and muttered insults。 Galloway would have rather been hanging by his toes from a trapeze than manoeuv