"You don't intend to have any theatricals, then, Renée?" Henri was saying to his sister. "You've quite given up that idea?"
"Given up—no; but what can I do? It isn't my fault, for I would act anything—I'd stand on my head. But I can't find any one else, so that, unless I give a monologue—Denoisel has refused, and as for you, a sober man like you—well, I suppose it's no use asking."
"I, why, I would act right enough," answered Henri.
"You, Henri?" exclaimed Mme. Mauperin in astonishment.
"And then, too, we are not short of men," continued Renée, "there are always men to act. It's for the women's parts. Ah, that's the difficulty—to find ladies. I don't see who is to act with me."
"Oh," said Henri, "if we look about among all the people we know, I'll wager——"
"Well, let's see: there's M. Durand's daughter. Why, yes—what do you think? M. Durand's daughter? They are at Saint-Denis; that will be convenient for the rehearsals. She's rather a simpleton, but I should think for the rôle of Mme. de Chavigny——"
"Ah," put in Denoisel, "you still want to act 'The Caprice'?"
"Now for a lecture, I suppose? But as I'm going to act with my brother——"
"And the performance will be for the benefit of the poor, I hope?" continued Denoisel.