I think he was aware he was playing a part; his sofa was his stage; and he lay there theatrical as Leo XI.

"I am going to play that the sofa is a hill, and slide down!"

" Valencia used every art of flashing eyes and pouting lips and gay sallythere was nothing subtle in her methodsto win Estenega to her side; but the sofa on which he sat with Chonita might have been the remotest star in the firmament.

Turning the handle of a door would produce a shower-bath, sofas would become suddenly boats surrounded by water, and such like more or less disagreeable surprises to visitors, who were new to the specialties of the place.