CON. (_to HOLDER._) Adieu, my good friend. I shall make it a point of
speaking to you whenever I see you now. I wish you to get accustomed
to my voice.
HOL. (_aside._) Ah! Ah! she has not insulted me by offering me money.
[_Exit, C._
CON. What and who is this Mr. Holder?
FLE. A copyist; he is often here. You have produced a singular effect
upon him.
CON. Then I am to understand that but for the intercession of this
good creature I should have received by post, stamped at its full
value, the gracious compliment.
FLE. On second thoughts I might not have sent my letter.
CON. The fact is that you are like Macbeth, "Letting, I dare not, wait
upon I would." My dear sir, between ourselves, you want it here
(_touching her forehead_); you do indeed!
FLE. Confess, now, that you rehearsed to-day on purpose to turn the
whole piece into ridicule.
CON. Well, and if I did--the piece deserves it? A father--a
daughter--the old story, old as the world.
FLE. What matters, if the situations are new.
CON. It's a dramatised police affair.
FLE. What signifies if the manager is bound over to keep the piece.
CON. Well said! Capital! Now don't put itself out of temper. I freely
admit that the story is very touching, but if I do not feel it, what
would you have? It is a sentiment I have never experienced, and,
therefore, cannot comprehend.
FLE. (_aside_) Holder's right.
CON. At any rate I shall _look_ the character to the life, and that's
_everything_ now-a-days. I shall have a simple white robe. Oh! I have
been very studious about my dress.
FLE. And you don't know a word of your part yet.
CON. Ah! that's because I have not studied that.
FLE. That reason's conclusive.
CON. Besides, I was out of temper. Some one sent me a bouquet this
morning, and Belgrave has been making such a fuss about it.
FLE. He came to me, pretending that I had sent you the bouquet.
CON. And it was not you.
FLE. Certainly not.
CON. Decidedly, that Belgrave is insupportable.
FLE. He quitted me, swearing that he would find out who sent it, if he
searched every flower-shop in London.
CON. And he is not a man to be imposed upon--at least, that's his
monomania. I was very curious to know who sent this bouquet, and he
charged himself with satisfying my curiosity. I fear he will have only
his trouble for his pains.
FLE. Why are you so anxious to know?
CON. Because in the present day the man who sends a bouquet
anonymously, and does not inform you what it cost, is a rare specimen
of the _genus homo_ worth knowing.
FLE. You have a rare wit beyond a doubt, and you would be perfect if
you would study the part in my piece.
CON. Ungrateful monster! Now can you guess why I have come here?
FLE. No.
CON. To go over the part with you seriously.
FLE. Is it possible?
CON. At the theatre, instead of rehearsing we were saying disagreeable
things to each other; as that did not appear to me to advantage the
piece, I thought an hour with you in good earnest would not be thrown
away.
FLE. You're an angel.
CON. That's an incontrovertible fact, for what everybody says must be
true; but since you intend this character for another----