Not a line of smut in it, but to make up for that we'll have over thirty changes of costume." Merton Gill coughed violently, then stared moodily at his plate of baked beans.

He hoped that this, at least, would recall him to Henshaw who might fix an eye on him to say: "And, by the way, here is a young actor that was of great help to me this morning." But neither man even glanced up.

Seemingly this young actor could choke to death without exciting their notice.

He stared less moodily at the baked beans.

Henshaw would notice him sometime, and you couldn't do everything at once.
The men had finished their luncheon and were smoking.