"How are you going to do it, Mark?" she asked.

He looked at her stupidly. "Do what?" he asked her.

She tossed her blond head impatiently. "Make the picture without them knowing about it," she said sharply, restraining an impulse to ridicule him.

He shook his head slowly. "I didn't say I was going to do it," he said, a look of cunning coming into his face, "I only said I would think about doing it."

She watched him take another drink. "I thought you were going to do it," she pouted. "I didn't think you were afraid."

He got to his feet dizzily. The fumes of the alcohol were running around in his brain. He drew himself up proudly. "Who's afraid?" he asked drunkenly. "I'm not afraid of n.o.body."

She looked up at him and smiled. "Then you are going to show them?"

He looked down at her. He weaved gently in front of her. Doubt came back into his face. "I thure would like to," he lisped. "But the work reportsth we thend to New York would show it up."

"You could always say it's a t.i.tle change. They'd never know the difference until it was all finished," she suggested sagaciously.

He stood there a moment thoughtfully, then his face broke into a wide smile. "Thay, Dulthie!" he exclaimed. "That'th a good idea!"

She got up and stood very close to him. "Of course it's a good idea, Mark." She pressed against him and kissed him.

He put his arms around her and buried his face against her throat. She let him kiss her until she could feel the tenseness of his body against her, his lips more demanding; then she broke loose from his grip. "Mark, don't!" she said sharply.

He looked at her bewildered. "Why, Dulcie?" he asked in an anguished voice. "I thought you liked me."

She smiled dazzlingly at him. "I do like you, darling," she said softly, coming close to him and kissing him lightly on the lips. "But I have to work tomorrow and you know what those cameras can see."

He tried to hold her, but she grabbed his hands and gently steered him toward the door. He went docilely with her. At the door he turned and kissed her again.

His cry of pain was like a strange music to her ears. "Dulcie, I want you so much I hurt!" His eyes were wild and glazed with a drunken pa.s.sion.

She opened the door and pushed him through it gently. "I know, darling," she said softly. Her eyes were filled with many promises. "Later, maybe."

She closed the door behind him and leaned against it smiling. Absently she rearranged the front of her parted gown, then she slowly crossed the room and lit a cigarette. She stared at the closed door, still smiling softly. There were many ways....

3.

Peter sat quietly in the chair, appraising the man who sat opposite him. He shifted his position slightly. These British had no idea of what comfort meant. If a man's behind was comfortable, he could work better, think better. He looked quickly around the office. It was dark and dull and looked exactly like what it was, the British sales manager's office.

He turned his face back to the man, Philippe X. Danvere. A month ago he had never even heard of him but, concurrently with his arrival in London, the trade papers were filled with that name.

Philippe X. Danvere, one of the richest men in Europe, had gone into the picture business. How the man had got the idea no one seemed to know. Born in Switzerland, he had been sent to England to complete his education before the World War. The war had come along while he was still at Oxford and he had enlisted in the British army. His father, head of the world-famous Danvere Textile Company, had objected to this with typical hard-headed Swiss neutrality, to no avail. His father died when the war ended, and Philippe, then a captain, returned to his native land to take over as t.i.tular head of his father's company. He had remained quietly in that position until a month ago.

The announcement that he had purchased controlling interest in several theater circuits on the Continent and finally that he had acquired the Martin Theaters Circuit, the largest in the British Isles, had startled the film world. Speculation was rife about his motives but Mr. Danvere kept his own counsel. He was a tall man with dark, wide eyes, a prominent nose, and a firm mouth and chin. His speech and mannerisms were more English than those of many a home-grown Briton.

Peter had immediately dispatched Charley Rosenberg, his London office manager, to see Mr. Danvere and try to secure the Martin circuit account for Magnum. It would be a great thing for Magnum to have four hundred guaranteed outlets for their product in the British Isles inasmuch as Great Britain represented one half of the foreign market for American pictures.

Mr. Danvere had been most polite to Rosenberg. He had also been most cautious. He explained to Mr. Rosenberg that as far as the picture business was concerned he was still a beginner and would not consider entering into any agreement with an American company for their product until he had a.s.sured himself of their complete reliability.

Mr. Rosenberg had pointed out to him that Magnum had been in the picture business since 1910 and was from the standpoint of age one of the oldest names in the business.

Mr. Danvere had indicated he was well aware of Magnum's position, since his accountants had already made a study of the more prominent companies. He also indicated he would be most interested in coming to some kind of agreement with Magnum under the proper terms and auspices.

Mr. Rosenberg had inquired what he meant and had been told that as a textile merchant, mind you, not speaking as a member of the motion-picture industry, Mr. Danvere had found the most profitable sort of arrangement where the retailer had some close connection with the manufacturer.

Mr. Rosenberg then mentioned the fact that Mr. Kessler, the president of Magnum Pictures, happened to be in London at the moment and would welcome an opportunity to meet him, and a meeting was arranged to take place in Magnum's London offices the following week.

The meeting had been delayed two weeks by the unexpected illness of Mr. Danvere, who had inconveniently taken cold, and Peter stayed in London until Mr. Danvere had recovered. Now they sat opposite each other, with Mr. Rosenberg hovering solicitously over them.

Mr. Danvere was speaking. "I must confess to a certain interest in your company, Mr. Kessler, ever since the war. I was an officer in His Majesty's armed services then, and I can remember the motion pictures you supplied the armed services without charge with a great deal of personal gratification."

Peter smiled slowly. Free motion pictures to the armies of the Allies had been one of his most treasured projects. He had realized that supplying entertainment for the soldiers would create a great deal of good will for motion pictures. "That's something I felt very grateful for being able to do, Mr. Danvere."

Mr. Danvere smiled, revealing his rather large teeth. "That's why I suggested to Mr. Rosenberg when he came to see me that a meeting might be in order between us. I should like to be able to speak to you frankly and confidentially if I may."

Peter looked at Charley Rosenberg, who immediately excused himself and left the room. Then he turned to Mr. Danvere inquiringly.

Mr. Danvere settled comfortably in his chair. "As I understand it, Mr. Kessler, and please correct me if I am wrong in my a.s.sumption, you are the sole owner of your company."

"For the most part you are correct, Mr. Danvere," Peter explained. "That is, I own all but ten percent of the stock. That ten percent is owned by a Mr. Edge, who helped me found the company and is at present executive vice-president."

"I see," said Mr. Danvere, nodding his head. He paused for a moment, then continued. "I believe Mr. Rosenberg made my viewpoint clear to you in connection with the showing of your pictures in the Martin theaters?"

"Not exactly," Peter replied cagily. "I would appreciate it if you would go over the idea with me."

Mr. Danvere leaned forward in his chair. His manner was still elaborately casual. "You see, Mr. Kessler," he said ingenuously, "basically I am nothing but a simple textile merchant. As such I have developed certain primary rules, which I endeavor to follow since they served me most successfully in the past. One of these rules applies to the sale of merchandise. I have found out by experience that an article is more successfully retailed when the retailer has an interest in the manufacture of the product itself. I believe that this same rule can be applied to the sale of motion pictures. For example, the Martin theaters would be more interested in securing the greatest grosses possible for Magnum pictures if they had an interest in the pictures themselves and could see the rewards for that additional effort being gainful in two ways. From the production as well as the exhibition of the pictures."

Peter looked at him steadily. What Danvere meant in plain talk was "You cut me in and I'll see that you do all right." Back in the states they called it protection. "I take it then, Mr. Danvere," he said gently, "you are interested in acquiring an interest in the Magnum company."

Danvere smiled slowly. "Something of the sort, Mr. Kessler," he admitted.

Peter rubbed the side of his face reflectively. "About how much of an interest are you considering, Mr. Danvere?"

Mr. Danvere cleared his throat. "Harumph," he coughed. He looked at Peter appraisingly. "About twenty-five percent, I should say."

"And for how much?" Peter asked.

Mr. Danvere looked around the office. He hesitated for a moment before he answered. "Five hundred thousand pounds," he replied.

Peter converted the money into dollars mentally. It came to almost two and a half million dollars. That would solve a lot of problems. He was curious as to how Danvere had arrived at that figure. "Why that particular amount, Mr. Danvere?"

Danvere's eyes met his levelly across the desk. "I make it a point never to go into any business venture half blind, Mr. Kessler. Before I purchased the Martin theaters my accountants had thoroughly investigated the entire company. When I decided to purchase them I realized that an a.s.sociation with an American motion-picture company would prove most beneficial to both parties. The record of your company was the most interesting one to me personally. You have a record of independence that commands my respect. You see, sir, my family fortunes, too, were founded on a principle of continually fighting the vested interests in its field. It was only natural that I should think of you in that light."

In spite of himself Peter was impressed. The fact that his struggle against odds had been recognized by this man and acknowledged was a very flattering one. Slowly he relaxed in his seat, a broad smile coming to his face. "Very kind of you to tell me this, Mr. Danvere," he said modestly.

Mr. Danvere held up a protesting hand. "It's nothing of the sort, Mr. Kessler. You have my respect sir, no matter what decision you make in this matter."

Peter nodded in a pleased manner. "I will give serious thought to your kind offer, Mr. Danvere, but there is one important fact I would like to know beforehand."

"What is that, Mr. Kessler?"

"You may not know of this, but I would like you to know that the last several years have been difficult ones for Magnum. Its losses since '29 have been in excess of ten million dollars."

Danvere nodded thoughtfully. "I was aware of that, Mr. Kessler, but I appreciate your honesty in calling it to my attention. However, I believe some of those losses were inevitable, due to your rather difficult position in relation to the rest of the industry-those vested interests we have mentioned. I believe, however, that I have a plan which would materially aid Magnum in its struggle for finances."

Peter raised an eyebrow. He had already developed a high regard for this man's opinions. The entire conversation had convinced him that Danvere was a very solid, conservative businessman. "What is that?" he asked.

Mr. Danvere crossed his legs comfortably. "My idea is basically a very simple one. I will purchase twenty-five percent of the present company's stock from you. We will then dissolve the present company and reorganize a new one with the stock issued to the present holders on a pari pa.s.su basis; that is, sixty-five percent to you, twenty-five percent to me, and ten percent to Mr. Edge. In order to gain public and industry-wide acceptance and confidence in the new company I would then suggest that you place twenty percent of the stock on the public market. This would leave you with a forty-five-percent interest, which would still ensure you a satisfactory controlling interest in the company." He paused for a moment to observe the reaction on Peter's face. It was calm and interested. Mr. Danvere continued: "The public sale of those shares should bring you approximately four hundred thousand pounds. That plus what you receive from me would come to a total of nine hundred thousand pounds, or about four and a half million dollars in your currency. Then the Martin Theaters Circuit would advance to Magnum on account of advance film rentals four hundred thousand pounds, and you concurrently would lend Magnum the same amount. This would provide Magnum with approximately four million dollars of working capital, which would be sufficient to guarantee its production program. It is also possible that, with the announcement of the new a.s.sociation with the Martin Theaters, Magnum's credit position will be improved materially and additional financing could be acquired if so needed."

Peter sat there quietly. If the same type of offer had come from a Wall Street financier he would have rejected it peremptorily. But this man was not a Wall Street financier. He was merely a simple textile merchant by his own admission. His family had made their fortune in much the same manner that he had, by fighting the bigger companies and their financial connections. Besides, he was in London, a long way from Wall Street, and the proposition he had just heard was a very attractive one. It would restore his personal fortune as well as place the business on an even keel.

He got out of his seat, walked around the desk, and stood in front of the chair in which Mr. Danvere was seated. He looked down at him seriously. "Of course I will have to discuss the matter with my a.s.sociate, Mr. Edge, before I could give you an answer, but I will admit I am most impressed with your proposition, Mr. Danvere."

Danvere looked up at him. He got out of his chair. "Of course, Mr. Kessler." He held out his hand and Peter took it. His grip was firm and strong. "It's been a great pleasure talking to you, Mr. Kessler," he said, towering over Peter.

"My pleasure," Peter insisted.

Mr. Danvere looked down at him and smiled. "Oh, I say, Mr. Kessler, I have a small place in Scotland, and if you have no other plans for the week-end, I should very much like to have you up there for a bit of shooting."

Peter looked up at him. "I'd like it very much," he said, smiling. "I have no other plans."

"Good thing," Mr. Danvere said warmly. "I'll have my chauffeur pick you up Friday afternoon. Let my office know a convenient time for you."

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Danvere," Peter said.

"Make it Philippe," Mr. Danvere said genially, holding out his hand again. "There's no need for formalities between us. We understand each other."

"Right you are, Philippe," Peter said, smiling broadly and shaking his hand.

"Good-bye, Peter," Philippe X. Danvere said from the door.

Peter walked back to his desk and sat down. Rosenberg came back into his office. He stood there looking down at Peter with an excited expression on his face. "Well, Peter," he asked, "how'd we make out?"

Peter looked up at him with a puzzled expression on his face. "What is this week-end shooting business?" he asked. "I don't know one end of a gun from the other."

4.

Johnny looked down at the studio work reports on his desk with a puzzled look on his face. What the h.e.l.l was this new picture, United We Stand, doing on there? He scratched his head trying to remember if Peter had told him about it before he had gone to London. He couldn't remember having heard about it before.

He pressed the buzzer on his desk and Jane came into the office. "Yes, Johnny?" she asked.

He looked up at her. "Did you ever hear Peter mention a picture by the name of United We Stand while he was here?"

"You mean that picture on last week's work sheet?"

"Yeanh," he said.

"No," she answered. "I don't remember it. I was going to ask you what it was all about."

He looked at her in apparent confusion. "Search me," he said at last. "d.a.m.ned if I know anything about it." He looked down at the work sheet again. "Funny too," he said thoughtfully. "It pops up on the report with a hundred grand sunk into it already and only six days' shooting on it. No final budget either." He looked up at her again. "Call Mark at the studio for me, will ya, Janey?"

She nodded and left the office. A few seconds later his phone buzzed and he picked it up. "Yes, Jane?"

"There's a call coming in from Peter in London for you," her voice said. "Do you still want me to call Mark?"

He thought for a moment. "No," he decided. "Hold it. I'll ask Peter about the picture."

He put the phone down and stared at it thoughtfully. He wondered what Peter wanted. It must be d.a.m.ned important if Peter would spend the dough to call him from London in these difficult times. The phone buzzed again. He picked it up.

"Peter is on the phone, Johnny."

"Okay," he said. "Put him through."

Peter's voice sounded thin and far away. "h.e.l.lo, Johnny," his voice was shouting.

"Peter, how are yuh?" Johnny answered. "What's on your mind?"

Peter's voice sounded excited. "I think we got our troubles licked," he said.

"What do you mean?" Johnny asked. The excitement in Peter's voice was contagious, he began to feel it sweep through him.

"You know this guy Danvere the trade papers been full about?" Peter asked.

"You mean the Swiss textile king?" Johnny asked.

"Yes, that's the guy," Peter answered quickly. "I just finished a talk to him and he made me a very interesting proposition."

"About what?" Johnny asked cautiously.

"I sent Charley Rosenberg after him to get the Martin Theaters account and he come back to me with a proposition. He'll give me preferred time in the theaters in return for a twenty-five-percent piece of the company."

"Wait a minute," Johnny interrupted him. "I thought you didn't want to sell any part of the company."