"Go on," says I. "Shoot the tragedy. What's too much?"
"That Pedro and that Salvatore," says he. "They have become lost, the worthless ones. They disappear on me. And in three hours I am to serve, in this crude place, a dinner of six courses to seven hundred men. They abandon me at such a time, with so much to be done."
"Well, that's up to you," says I. "Can't some of your crowd double in brass? What about workin' in some of your waiters?"
"But they are all employed," says Zaretti. "Besides, the union does not permit. If you could assist me with two men, even one. I implore."
"There ain't a cook in sight," says I. "Sorry, but——"
"Eet ees not for cook," he protests. "No; only to help make the peel from those so many potatoes. One who could make the peel. Please!"
"Oh!" says I. "Peelin' potatoes! Why, 'most anybody could help out at that, I guess. I would myself if——"
"No," breaks in Miss Jane. "You cannot be spared. And I'm sure I don't know who could."
"Unless," I puts in, "Mr. Hurd is all through with his decoratin'."
"Why, to be sure," says she. "Just tell him, will you?"