Telfer.
[Filling his glass. ] I give you The Queen, coupling with that toast the name of Miss Violet Sylvester—Mrs. Telfer—formerly, as you are aware, of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Miss Sylvester has so frequently and, if I may say so, so nobly impersonated the various queens of tragedy that I cannot but feel she is a fitting person to acknowledge our expression of loyalty. [Raising his glass.] The Queen I And Miss Violet Sylvester!
[All rise, except Mrs. Telfer, and drink the toast. After drinking Mrs. Mossop passes her tumbler to Ablett.]
Ablett.
The Queen! Miss Vi'lent Sylvester!
[He drinks and returns the glass to Mrs. Mossop. The company being reseated, Mrs. Telfer rises. Her reception is a polite one.]
Mrs. Telfer.
[Heavily.] Ladies and gentlemen, I have played fourteen or fifteen queens in my time—-
Telfer.
Thirteen, my love, to be exact; I was calculating this morning.