MOTHER. Pride should be damped. Your last book was much weaker.
STRANGER. You read it?
MOTHER. Yes. That's why I know all your secrets. So don't try to deceive me; it won't go well with you. (Pause.) A trifle, but one that does us no good here: why didn't you pay the ferryman?
STRANGER. My heel of Achilles! I threw my last coin away. Can't we speak of something else than money in this house?
MOTHER. Oh yes. But in this house we do our duty before we amuse ourselves. So you came on foot because you had no money?
STRANGER (hesitating). Yes....
MOTHER (smiling). Probably nothing to eat?
STRANGER (hesitating). No....
MOTHER. You're a fine fellow!
STRANGER. In all my life I've never been in such a predicament.