The middle-aged beggar points upward at the head with the white beard.
The younger starts, and prostrates himself beneath it with a deep cry.
Outside, on the left, a twanging of stringed instruments sounds faint but merry. It draws nearer, and quickly the players come running on—five tattered, motley vagabonds in masks: Scaramouche, Harlequin, Punchinello, Pantaloon and Capocomico.
The last, leading them with his baton, stops in the gateway, before which Harlequin executes a ballet-step dance, while Scaramouche, Pantaloon, and Punchinello play accompaniment on guitar, mandolin and zither.
Breaking off, Punchinello begins to improvise an imitation of Harlequin’s dance, but being beaten over his hump with a thwacking stick by Harlequin, retreats with grotesque pantomime.
At their merriment, the younger beggar, rising, draws away with the elder, making a tragic gesture toward the white-bearded head on the wall.
Perceiving them, Capocomico silences the musicians and approaches the younger beggar curiously.
Stepping between them, the older beggar salaams and asks alms.
Laughing, Capocomico turns his empty pouch wrong-side-out and bows obsequiously, extending his own palm.
The other Maskers do likewise, sticking out their tongues.