'It may be she would sacrifice herself,' said the manager musingly.
'And who am I that I should ask her to sacrifice herself?' replied the poet modestly.
'Fanny won't sacrifice Ophelia,' Kloot observed drily to his chief.
'You hear?' said Goldwater, as quick as lightning. 'My wife will not sacrifice Ophelia by leaving her to a minor player. She thinks only of the play. It is very noble of her.'
'But she has worked so hard,' pleaded the poet desperately, 'she needs a rest.'
'My wife never spares herself.'
Pinchas lost his head. 'But she might spare Ophelia,' he groaned.
'What do you mean?' cried Goldwater gruffly. 'My wife will honour you by playing Ophelia. That is ended.' He waved the make-up brush in his hand.
'No, it is not ended,' said Pinchas desperately. 'Your wife is a comic actress——'
'You just admitted she was tragic——'