"It is. Have you ever thought that, if we refused to begin, the play couldn't continue, and then the audience would be able to go home? My idea was to tackle the people as they arrive, and come to terms with them. I'm sure there's money in it." "You aren't bothering, are you?" "Of course, I am. I'd give a hundred pounds to be out of it. No, I wouldn't--I'd give a hundred pounds if you'd always wear that frock and do your hair like that. Will you? And you shall go on with your French, child." Myra curtsied prettily. "And I'll go on with my whiskers. You haven't seen me in those yet, have you?" There was a loud noise without. "Here they are, coming in." It was not the whiskers, however, but Archie and Thomas in full costume; Archie in green and Thomas in black. "Hallo," said Archie, "I feel just like a conjuror." "You look just like a grasshopper," said Thomas. "My dear friend," said Archie, patting him kindly on his shoulder, "is that you? But you oughtn't to be here, you know. You came up the hot-water pipe, I suppose? Yes, yes, but they misdirected you--the blackbeetle department is in the basement. Well, well, it will be easier going down." "Archie, Dahlia's looking for you." "It's all right, she found me. She was nearly in tears. She said, 'Is that my Archibald or an onion?' I said 'Fear not, fair one, 'tis but the early crocus.' Myra, don't you think they've overdone the green rather? To be quite frank, I don't see why a conjuror should be dressed in green at all." "To distinguish him from the rat-catcher in brown, the executioner in black, and the Master of the Gold Fish in red." "I had thought that perhaps a certain aptitude for legerdemain might so distinguish him. But I perceive that I am wrong. Hallo, why aren't you in brown then?" "I'm coming on like this," I explained. "I was going to have changed, but now I've seen you two, I don't think I will. With my ordinary clothes, one whisker--probably the starboard one--and a little insouciance, I shall be a great success." "What annoys me," said Thomas, "is that in the early Bong age they had no bally pockets. I've simply got nowhere to keep a handkerchief." "Keep it behind the scenes; and then, if you blow your nose immediately before the execution, and again immediately after it, you ought to be all right." "It isn't for that. It's in case I want to cry." "It's all right for me," said Archie. "I've simply got to say, 'Now can anybody in the audience oblige me with a handkerchief?' and I shall get dozens." "Then I shall probably touch you for one. Great Irvings! is this really Simpson?" The Emperor Bong was making a splendid entry, looking (except for his spectacles) exactly like an emperor. "Rise, rise," he said. "Stop grovelling. Oh, look here, you fellows, when I say 'On the stomach!' then you must----Oh, I beg your pardon, Miss Mannering, I didn't see you were there." "Where are my whiskers?" I asked sternly.