Beggar. Don't get fresh! I was once a head waiter!
Waiter. That must have been a fine place.
Beggar. It was too. I traveled all around the world as a waiter. I saw better days before I became a beggar.
Young Man [at table Left, fondly to the Cocotte]. Indeed if I were a millionaire—my word of honor I would buy you an automobile. Nothing would be too dear for you.
Cocotte [at table Left]. My darling Kangaroo. How liberal you are. I am sure I am your first love.
Young Man. Yes—you are—that is if I don't count the cook who has been at our house for five years—yes, on my word of honor.
[He finishes in pantomime.]
Beggar [to Waiter]: Yes, yes, one goes down. Life is a tight rope dance—before you look around you've lost your balance, and are lying in the dirt.
Waiter [laying aside the paper]. You ought to go to work. That would do you more good than talking.
Beggar. I've tried working too. But work for our kind is the surest way to remain poor. And, do you know, begging is no pleasure either. To get the money centime by centime and no rest from the police—well, well, if I'm born into this world again I will become a government official.