ROBERTS: ‘You are good at those things. You have so much _aplomb_, you
know. _You_ could carry it off, you know, first-rate.’
WILLIS, as if finding a certain fascination in the idea: ‘Well, I don’t
know—’
ROBERTS: ‘And I could chime in on the laugh. I think I could do that if
somebody else was doing the rest.’
WILLIS, after a moment of silent reflection: ‘I _should_ like to do it.
I should like to see how old Bemis would look when I played it on him.
Roberts, I _will_ do it. Not a word! I should _like_ to do it. Now you
go on and hurry up your toilet, old fellow; you needn’t mind me here.
I’ll be rehearsing.’
MRS. ROBERTS, knocking at the door, outside: ‘Edward, are you _never_
coming?’
ROBERTS: ‘Yes, yes; I’ll be there in a minute, my dear.’
WILLIS: ‘Yes, he’ll be there. Run along back, and keep it going till we
come. Roberts, I wouldn’t take a thousand dollars for this chance.’
ROBERTS: ‘I’m glad you like it.’
WILLIS: ‘Like it? Of course I do. Or no! Hold on! Wait! It won’t do!
No; you must take the leading part, and I’ll support you, and I’ll come
in strong if you break down. That’s the way we have got to work it. You
must make the start.’
ROBERTS: ‘Couldn’t you make it better, Willis? It’s your idea.’
WILLIS: ‘No; they’d be sure to suspect me, and they can’t suspect you of
anything—you’re so innocent. The illusion will be complete.’
ROBERTS, very doubtfully: ‘Do you think so?’
WILLIS: ‘Yes. Hurry up. Let me unbutton that collar for you.’