_Various other Players_ (_together_). Surely there's no difficulty in beginning? Say "anything," etc., etc. _A Player_ (_looking round_). Say--say "fireplace." _First Player._ But that's so silly. _Master of Ceremonies_ (_who wishes he had never proposed the game_). It doesn't matter. All that is needed is a start. _Another player._ Say "MARGOT." (_Roars of laughter._) _All._ Oh, yes, say "MARGOT." _First Player._ Very well, then--"MARGOT." (_More laughter._) _Second Player_ (_trying to be clever_). "Reticence." (_Shouts of laughter._) _Other Players._ How could "MARGOT" suggest "reticence"? _M. C._ Never mind; the point is that it did. Now then--and please everyone be silent--now, then, Third Player? _Third Player._ "Audacity." _M. C._ I'm afraid you're not playing quite fairly. You see "reticence" cannot suggest "audacity." The First Player's word not impossibly might. Could it be that you were still thinking of that? _Third Player._ I'm sorry. But "reticence" doesn't suggest anything. _Other Players_ (_together_). Oh, yes, it does--"silence," "grumpiness," "oysters," "Trappists." _M. C._ If a word suggests nothing whatever to you, you should say, "Blank mind." _Third Player._ Ah, but I've thought of something now--"reticule." (_Roars of laughter._) _M. C._ It's all right. That's how the mind does work. Now, next player. _Fourth Player._ Have I got to say something that "reticule" suggests? _M. C._ That's the idea--yes. _A Player._ Say "vanity-bag." _Another Player._ Say "powder-puff." (_Roars of laughter._) _M. C._ Please, please--either the game is worth playing or it isn't. If it is worth playing it is worth playing seriously, and then you can get some very funny effects--it's a psychological exhibition; but if other players talk at the same time and try to help it's useless. Now, next player, please. The word is "reticule." _Fourth Player_ (_after a long silence_). "Bond Street." _Fifth Player._ Ah, "Bond Street"! That's better. That suggests heaps of things. Which shall I choose? "Chocolates"? No. "Furs"? No. "Diamonds"? No. Oh, yes--"Old Masters." _M. C._ (_with resignation_). But you know you mustn't select. The whole point of the game is that you must say what comes automatically into your mind as you hear the word. _Fifth Player._ I'm sorry. Shall I go back to "diamonds"? _M. C._ No; you had better stick to "Old Masters." _Fifth Player._ "Old Masters." _Sixth Player_ (_deaf_). What did you say--"mustard-plasters"? _Fifth Player._ No; "Old Masters." _Sixth Player._ I've heard of new men and old acres, but I've never heard of Old Pastures. What are they? _Fifth Player_ (_shouting_). No, no; "Old Masters." Pictures of the Old Masters--RAPHAEL, TITIAN. _Sixth Player._ Ah, yes! "Old Masters." Well, that suggests to me---- Yes (_triumphantly_), "the National Gallery." _Seventh Player_ (_who has been waiting sternly_). "Trafalgar Square." _Eighth Player_ (_instantly_). "NELSON."