"Ach! Vot isn't der matter?" cried the moon-faced one. "I haf a part vot incessitates me to be bound und gagged by a band of robbers, und stood in a corner vhile dey loot der blace."
"Well, that's a nice, romantic part," observed Paul.
"Yah, but how would you like to haf a rag stuffed in your mout so vot you couldn't breath yet for five minutes? How vould you like dot; hey? Dell me dot!"
"Oh, well, tell 'em to leave you a breathing hole," laughed Paul.
"Where is Mr. Pertell? Where is he? I demand to see him at once!" broke in the voice of Wellington Bunn. "I must see him instantly!"
"He was here a moment ago, giving the Misses DeVere their parts," replied Paul. "Why, is the place on fire?"
"No, but I refuse to take the part he has assigned to me. I utterly and positively refuse to so demean myself."
"What part have you?" asked the young fellow, looking over at Alice and nodding.
"Why, he has cast me—I, who have played all the principal Shakespearean characters—he has cast me—Wellington Bunn—as a waiter in a hotel scene! Where is Mr. Pertell? I refuse to take that character!"
"Oh, what's the trouble now?" asked the manager, coming from his office. The Shakespearean actor explained.