"Dobbin!"
"They're trying to work you——"
"But, my dear! isn't it barely possible Mr. Culp was sincere?"
"The thing's absurd on the face of it."
"Isn't that a matter of opinion?"
"It's a characteristic scheme to exploit you to Alma Daley's profit, to get her a lot of publicity on the cheap by letting the newspapers announce that Mrs. Bellamy Druce is going to act in her support."
"You won't admit, then," Lucinda persisted, nettled, "I may possibly have some latent ability as a motion-picture actress?"
"It doesn't matter. The proposition is a piece of—of preposterous impudence. What did you say to Culp?"
With countenance half averted, Lucinda said coldly: "My dear Dobbin: do you realize you're being rude?"
He was all contrition. "Oh, I'm sorry, Cinda, if I let my indignation on your behalf——"