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"Now then, I'll read Horace I'd like you to be as relaxed and natural as possible, Rain Read it as if I wasn't even here, understand?"

"Yes, I do," I said

He handed e It was a love scene

"Anything wrong?" he asked when I hesitated "What? No"

"Good Let's begin Pretend we're seated just like this on the stage, in her living roolass on the table, and sat forward It was immediately obvious that he had memorized his part

"What play is this?" I asked, quickly reading soht it was really bad

"Love Undone," he replied "The playwright is the rage of London these days We're lucky to have the rights to it and anyone who gets a decent part will make an impression quickly on the theater

community"

He paused and leaned toward ain, his hand over his mouth as if there were other people in the roo to hide his words

"You have to decide how much of what he says is real and how much is hype This takes experience," he added and sat back "So, shall we start? Wait," he interrupted, "it's too bright in here Not at all as it would be on the stage"

He got up and closed all the curtains tightly Then he sat again and nodded

"Any time you're ready," he said

"Ready?"

"To read Go on," he directed, flicking his right hand at me

"Oh All right" I began "Horace, I wish you hadn't coht You kno I feel about our relationship"