She wasn't going to eat his play--not she! Then she made him laugh and gave him to understand that he would be foolish to be angry with her, in view of his relationship to the Muffats.

If, she said, her memory failed her she would take her lines from the prompter.

The house, too, would be packed in such a way as to ensure applause.

Besides, he was mistaken about her, and he would soon see how she would rattle through her part.

By and by it was arranged that the author should make a few changes in the role of the duchess so as to extend that of Prulliere.