FLE. Hey! what? What do you say?
JONES. I was going to ask, sir, if you thought of the order?
FLE. What order?
JONES. The order, sir, that I asked you for this morning, for the
lady's-maid of a marchioness, whom I met at Cremorne. I suppose you
forgot it, sir?
FLE. Oh! I had other matters to attend to.
JONES. Of course, sir; of course. Then I'll go myself, sir--in your
name, sir, I'm sure to get it sir, as you write in the newspapers.
Only, sir, if you should want me, sir, you will please to recollect
that I am obliged to go out.
FLE. Not one word of her part--not one, and the piece is to come out
on Wednesday. It's enough to drive one mad.
JONES. I have always said, sir, that you have never been done justice
to, sir; yet you will persist in writing for these second-rate
theatres. If I was you, sir, I would not write again till government
built a legitimate theatre for scenery.
FLE. That's your opinion, is it?
JONES. Yes, sir, and it's the opinion of Miss Penelope, too.
FLE. And who's Miss Penelope?
JONES. The lady's-maid I mentioned just now, sir. When I told her your
profession, sir, she immediately asked if you _authorised_ the
legitimate drama.