WILLIS: 'Well, then, you must trust to inspiration, and adapt
yourself to circumstances.'

ROBERTS: 'Wouldn't it be rather more of a joke to come out with the
facts at once?'

WILLIS: 'On you it would; and a year from now--say next Christmas--
you could get the laugh on Bemis that way. But if you were to risk
it now, there's no telling how he'd take it. He's so indignant he
might insist upon leaving the house. But with this plan of mine--'

ROBERTS, in despair: 'I couldn't, Willis. I don't feel light, and
I don't feel confident, and I couldn't act it. If it were a simple
lie--'

WILLIS: 'Oh, lies are never simple; they require the exercise of
all your ingenuity. If you want something simple, you must stick to
the truth, and throw yourself on Bemis's mercy.'

ROBERTS, walking up and down in great distress: 'I can't do it; I
can't do it. It's very kind of you to think it all out for me,
but'--struck by a sudden idea--'Willis, why shouldn't YOU do it?'

WILLIS: 'I?'

ROBERTS: 'You are good at those things. You have so much aplomb,
you know. YOU could carry it off, you know, first-rate.'

WILLIS, as if finding a certain fascination in the idea: 'Well, I