"Why don't you get something better to do?"

My victim, never changing his serious aspect, replied:

"You mean, why don't you get me something better to do."

This was a real knock-down blow. I came up staggering and a little dazed. My victim, seeing his chance, led the attack:

"Anything more to say?"

I feebly answered:

"No. Have you?"

He said:

"No—except that you act a good deal better here than you do at the Savoy."

The next day I thought of fifty good things I might have said. Alas! how easily things go wrong!