The Dolphin was under the control of ‘Dolphin Theatres Incorporated’. This was a subsidiary of Consolidated Oils. It had been created, broadly speaking, by Mr Greenslade, to encompass the development of the Dolphin project. Behind his new desk in the office sat Mr Winter Morris, an extremely able theatrical business manager. He had been wooed into the service by Mr Greenslade upon Peregrine’s suggestion, after a number of interviews and, he felt sure, exhaustive inquiries. Throughout these preliminaries, Mr Conducis had remained, as it were, the merest effluvium: far from noxious and so potent that a kind of plushy assurance seemed to permeate the last detail of renaissance in The Dolphin. Mr Morris had now under his hand an entire scheme for promotion, presentation and maintenance embracing contracts with actors, designers, costumiers, front of house staff, stage crew and press agents and the delicate manipulation of such elements as might be propitious to the general mana of the enterprise.

He was a short, pale and restless man with rich curly hair, who, in what little private life belonged to him, collected bric-à-brac.

‘Good morning, Winty.’

‘Perry,’ said Mr Morris as a defensive statement rather than a greeting.

‘Any joy?’

Mr Morris lolled his head from side to side.

‘Before I forget. Do we want a caretaker, watchman, day or night, stage-door-keeper or any other lowly bod about the house?’

‘We shall in a couple of days.’

Peregrine told him about Mr Jobbins.

‘All right,’ said Mr Morris. ‘If the references are good. Now, it’s my turn. Are you full cast?’

‘Not quite. I’m hovering.’

‘What do you think of Harry Grove?’

‘As an actor?’

‘Yes.’

‘As an actor I think a lot of him.’

‘Just as well. You’ve got him.’

‘Winty, what the hell do you mean?’

‘A directive, dear boy: or what amounts to it. From Head Office.’

‘About W. Hartly Grove?’

‘You’ll probably find something in your mail.’

Peregrine went to his desk. He was now very familiar with the looks of Mr Greenslade’s communications and hurriedly extracted the latest from the pile.

Dear Peregrine Jay,

Your preliminaries seem to be going forward smoothly and according to plan. We are all very happy with the general shaping and development of the original project and are satisfied that the decision to open with your own play is a sound one, especially in view of your current success at The Unicorn. This is merely an informal note to bring to your notice Mr W. Hartly Grove, an actor, as you will of course know, of repute and experience. Mr Conducis personally will be very pleased if you give favourable attention to Mr Grove when forming your company.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

STANLEY GREENSLADE