Nestor: (Calling after her.) I might as well be putting the jackdaw back into the cage to be ready for the journey. (Comes into shop.) I hope now he will be well treated by the sailors and he travelling over the sea.... Where is he now.... (Chirrups.) Here now, come here to me, what’s this your name is.... Nero! Nero! (Makes pounces behind counter.) Ah, bad manners to you, is it under the counter you are gone!
(Lies flat on the floor chirruping and calling, Nero! Nero! Nally comes in and watches him curiously.)
Nally: Is it catching blackbeetles you are, Mr. Nestor? Where are they and I will give you a hand....
Nestor: (Getting up annoyed.) It’s that bird I was striving to catch a hold of for to put him back in the cage.
Tommy Nally: (Making a pounce.) There he is now. (Puts bird in cage.) Wait now till I’ll fasten the gate.
Nestor: Just putting everything straight and handy for the widow woman I am before she will come back from the settlement she is making in the Court.
Nally: What way will she be able to do that?
Nestor: I gave her advice. A thought I had, something that came from my reading. (Taps paper.) Education and reading and going in the army through the kingdoms of the world; that is what fits a man now to be giving out advice.
Tommy: Indeed, it’s good for them to have you, all the poor ignorant people of this town.
Cooney: (Coming in hurriedly and knocking against Nally as he goes out.) What, now, would you say to be the best nesting place in this town. Nests of jackdaws I should say.