MARIE (holding up a finger that is adorned with a ring). Monsieur!
GLADYS (more practical). The fire’s going out.
POLICEMAN (recklessly). In with another penny. (He feeds the fire with that noble coin.) Fellow allies, I’m just going to take a peep into the German trench! Hah!
(He stealthily mounts a chair and puts his hand into Gretchen’s box. We must presume that it is bitten by the invisible occupant, for he withdraws it hurriedly to the hearty delight of the spectators. This mirth changes to rapture as CINDERELLA makes a conceited entrance carrying a jug of milk and five hot potatoes in their jackets. Handsomely laden as she is, it is her attire that calls forth the applause. She is now wearing the traditional short brown dress of CINDERELLA, and her hair hangs loose. She tries to look modest.)
CINDERELLA (displaying herself). What do you think?
POLICEMAN (again in Badgery). Great! Turn round. And I suppose you made it yourself out of a shop window?
CINDERELLA. No, we didn’t need no shop window; we all knew exactly what I was wearing when the knock came.
GLADYS. Of course we did.
(A potato is passed up to each and a cup of milk between two. There is also a delicious saucerful of melted lard into which they dip. GRETCHEN is now as much in evidence as the others, and quite as attractive—the fun becomes fast and furious.)