Havener turned to Frank.
“Think you can do anything at all with the part in such a short time?” he asked.
“I can try,” was the quiet answer. “I am very apt at memorizing anything, and I believe I can have the greater part of the lines before the evening performance, if I am not required to do anything else.”
“Even if he had the lines perfectly,” put in Dunton, “he could not handle the part.”
“How do you know?” asked the stage-manager.
“Reason will tell anybody that. Why, it is almost a star part! It requires some one with experience and judgment. I have studied the part, for I like it, and I believe I can play it as it should be played. It is the kind of a part that suits me.”
“Hum!” grunted Havener. “What are you driving at? Want to play it yourself?”
“Well, I believe that would be the best way to arrange it.”
“Who’d fill your part?”
“You might put Merriwell on that. It is only about half as long as the other, and it does not make so much difference if it is not played well. The audience hates the villain, anyway, and so what’s the odds if he is rank?”