I believe the answer is:"A picture!" said the old gentleman with the haunted head. "A picture!" cried the narrator with the waggish nose. "A picture! a picture!" echoed several voices.
In literature, playful tone refers to a tone voiced by the character which is fun, full of high spirit, intended to be funny, or good-natured. This usually used in a low-stake situation within the intermezzo that is not really important to the flow of the plot.