"But instead of judging me beforehand, wouldn't it be fairer to wait?"
"Oh yes, wait ten years, twenty years! I sincerely hope I shall be buried before your play is acted, and then I shall never see it."
At this juncture, Ferésse slily opened the door.
"Excuse me, M. Deviolaine," he said, "but there is a Comedian here (he carefully emphasised the word) asking for M. Dumas."
"A Comedian! What Comedian?" M. Deviolaine asked.
"M. Firmin, from the Comédie-Française."
"Yes," I replied quietly; "he takes the part of Monaldeschi."
"Firmin plays in your piece?"
"Yes, he takes Monaldeschi.... Oh, it is admirably cast: Firmin plays Monaldeschi, Mademoiselle Mars Christine...."
"Mademoiselle Mars plays in your piece?"