“God knows!” she declared.

“C’est une âme d’élite, Sir Oliver.”

“You’ve no experience at all?”

“None.”

Sir Oliver refused a dish.

“We old ones ...” he lamented. “Once upon a time, I was in closer touch with the stage.”

“Even so, Sir Oliver, you still retain your footing.”

“Footing, f-f-f——; among the whole demned lot, who persists still but, perhaps, the Marys?”

“Take the Marys. A word to them; just think what a boon!”

“Nothing so easy.”