Mrs. Tarpey [holding out some apples]. A penny the half-dozen, your honor.
Policeman [shouting]. The gentleman is asking do you know the town! He's the new magistrate!
Mrs. Tarpey [rising and ducking]. Do I know the town? I do, to be sure.
Magistrate [shouting]. What is its chief business?
Mrs. Tarpey. Business, is it? What business would the people here have but to be minding one another's business?
Magistrate. I mean what trade have they?
Mrs. Tarpey. Not a trade. No trade at all but to be talking.
Magistrate. I shall learn nothing here. [James Ryan comes in, pipe in mouth. Seeing Magistrate he retreats quickly, taking pipe from mouth.]
Magistrate. The smoke from that man's pipe had a greenish look; he may be growing unlicensed tobacco at home. I wish I had brought my telescope to this district. Come to the post-office, I will telegraph for it. I found it very useful in the Andaman Islands. [Magistrate and Policeman go out left.]
Mrs. Tarpey. Bad luck to Jo Muldoon, knocking my apples this way and that way. [Begins arranging them.] Showing off he was to the new magistrate. [Enter Bartley Fallon and Mrs. Fallon.]