“How much do you want?” inquired Moisse.
“Anything,” said the beggar.
The young dramatist felt in his pocket. A single half-dollar encountered his fingers.
“I’ve only got a half-dollar,” he said, “I’ll get it changed. Come on.”
The two of them walked in silence, Moisse still sauntering, the little old man bent over and looking as if he wanted to speak but was afraid of dissipating a dream.
“Wait here,” Moisse said suddenly, “I’ll go in and get change.”
He stepped into the box office of one of the large moving-picture theaters on the avenue and secured change.
The little old man had followed him inside the building, his eyes watching him with an eager curiosity.
Moisse turned with the change to find the beggar at his elbow.
He handed him fifteen cents.