Actorviews (1923)

178 Actorviews J didn’t notice that it was wet, because being wet all over it didn’t look wet at all. He said, quite calmly, I say, have you by any chance seen my umbrella?’ “I told him not to mind the umbrella, that what he needed was a whiskey and a change. I said I ■•ouldn’t fit him with a suit, but to come along and I’d give him some dry underthings. ‘I’ve got another suit with me, but I must find my umbrella — it may come on to rain,’ said my dripping friend. And then, finding it, he immediately picked up where we’d left off talking national theater: ‘You were saying, Arliss, about that plan of yours ?’ ” “It’s a classic!” I cried. “There’s just a bit more,” said Arliss, his perfect manners absorbing the graceless if well-meant interruption. “While Archer was in his room, changing, a party of visiting Americans, hearing that I had a cottage in the neighborhood, motored over to have a look. We were exchanging a few words in the living room when one of the visitors, taking out his watch, said, ‘Why, it’s one-thirty, and must be your luncheon hour; we’ll be going.’ “And at that instant William Archer entered the room — in complete evening dress. He was such a modest hero that I didn’t keep them to explain. And he wasn’t a strong swimmer, either, I found out, but not afraid of the waves, he told me, from much bathing in Norway. No ; I didn’t explain Archer’s wonderful midday costume, and I’ve often wondered what my American visitors thought.” “A wonderful story, Mr. Arliss, of a wonderfully cool man. I wonder if anything could heat him?” “I saw him heated, as you say, once. You know how exceedingly clever Winthrop Ames is at lighting a stage. He will spend hours and days perfecting a