"I see. And would you call it a tragic or a pathetic part?"
"It's a comic part, rather. You're Hereditary Grand Rat-Catcher to the Emperor Bong. Bong the Second. Not the first Bong, the Dinner Bong."
"Look here. I suppose you know that I've never acted in my life, and never been or seen a rat-catcher in my life. It is therefore useless for you to tell me to be perfectly natural."
"You have so little to do; it will be quite easy. Your great scene is where you approach the Emperor very nervously——"
"I shall do the nervous part all right."
"And beg him to spare the life of his mother-in-law."
"Why? I mean, who is she?"
"Miss Fortescue."
"Yes, I doubt if I can make that bit seem quite so natural. Still, I'll try."
"Hooray. How splendid!"