‘Yes, I’m sorry too. Sounded a super idea.’

‘It pleased you?’ There was caution in the question.

‘Naturally. What else? Vienna, movies, getting somewhere. A new opening.’

‘It would have been a very big assignment, hard, demanding.’

‘That would have been okay. I like a challenge.’

‘This would have required a great deal of physical expertise.’

‘Fine. That’s my job. I can do that.’

‘Hagel couldn’t. That is why I considered you. He looked very well for the role, handsome, strong, many things he had externally. But inside he was …’, a shake of the platinum head, a deprecating smile, eyes glazed with the pain of recollection, ‘He was like a woman. Timid, passive. Ach …’

‘That’s not much good, is it?’

‘Not at all. Also his eyes were brown, not blue, his hair not right.’

‘Didn’t seem to have much going for him, did he, really?’

‘One thing. He had an excellent screen presence, which he lacked in normal life. It is strange what the camera can do. It was not unkind to Hagel.’

‘It’s not unkind to me either, as it happens.’ Marcus looked modestly into his half-empty wine glass.

‘Not unkind? The camera? To you?’

‘To me,’ said Marcus. Crikey! That’s gone down like a penny in the slot.

Grottorosso had risen from his settee rather quickly, refilled their glasses, spilling a little, for his hand shook slightly. Perhaps it was only the gentle movement of the anchored ship on the swell.

‘You did not say to me about the camera?’

‘Well, you didn’t ask, did you?’

‘No, that is so. I did not expect this. This is extra! Have I ever seen you perhaps?’

‘I doubt it.’ Marcus grinned over his glass. ‘Of course you may. But if you ever had I think that you’d recognize me.’

‘In England, is it? America?’

‘In England mostly. But I’m quite popular in the States, Germany, Japan, even the Arab Emirates.’

‘I had no idea,’ said Grottorosso in surprise. ‘Forgive me.’

That’s okay, thought Marcus. But you’re up the wrong tree. You think we’re talking about movies. I’m talking about Gus Bender and company. Never mind.

‘You have a lot of experience of this?’

‘Not a lot. Enough. I’m still learning, you know.’

‘Would I know any of them perhaps?’

‘I don’t think so, all small budget stuff. “The Gay Hussar” was one? Or “Mazeppa” another. But I don’t suppose you know them, eh?’

‘No … it is so. But you know in my productions it is not absolutely necessary to have acting experience, I prefer it when my players have none at all … when they come to me, shall I say, virginal, unsullied by tricks and poses, just as a piece of pure clay awaits the potter’s hands. You can perhaps understand me?’

‘Perfectly,’ said Marcus and crossed one booted leg over the other; he’s dead on cue, Minerva, I think we’re off at last.