"Nothing, if you did not catch it."
"But who is to be Sir Lucius, we haven't settled that," said Mrs. Broughton.
"I wather think I should play Sir Lucius O'Twigger, as my bwogue is genewally pwonounced so vewy Iwish."
"But," interposed Marmaduke, "we have forgotten Cecil ... Oh! there is Acres—a famous part!"
"Surely, Captain Absolute would be better," suggested Violet.
"Is that a sarcasm?" Cecil asked himself.
"Anybody," rejoined Marmaduke, "can play the Captain, whereas Acres is a difficult part. It is not easy to play cowardice naturally."
This is one of those observations, which, seeming to have nothing in them, yet fall with strange acrimony on the ears of certain of the parties. It made Violet and Cecil uncomfortable.
"Besides," pursued Marmaduke, "it is a rule in acting, that we always best play the part most unlike our own; and as Cecil happens to be the coolest of the cool in a duel, he ought to play the duel scene to perfection."
"Did you ever fight a duel, then?" exclaimed Miss Broughton. "How romantic!"