STRANGER. What about the professor?
BEGGAR. He only calls himself that; he's no professor really, though he does give lessons. And the uniform that must have impressed you most was that of a lackey in a chancellery.
STRANGER (tearing of the wreath and the ribbon of the order). Very well! But who was the elderly man with the eyeglass?
BEGGAR. Your father-in-law!
STRANGER. Who got up this hoax?
BEGGAR. It's no hoax, it's quite serious. The professor came on behalf of the Society, for so they call themselves, and asked you whether you'd accept the fête. You accepted it; so it became serious!
(Two dirty-looking women carry in a dust-bin suspended from a stick and set it down on the high table.)
FIRST WOMAN. If you're the man who makes gold, you might buy two brandies for us.
STRANGER. What's this mean?
BEGGAR. It's the last part of the reception; and it's supposed to mean that gold's mere rubbish.