"How are you, goldfish?"
"Hey there, Treasurer! Oh pearl of treasurers, come over to us."
The treasurer bowed, paying no attention to the jibes that were hurled at him.
"Mrs. Directress will pardon me for coming late, but my family lives in the Jewish quarter and I really had to stay with them till the end of the Sabbath," he explained to Cabinska.
"Have a seat, sir. If you can't eat, you're at least allowed to drink," invited Cabinski, making room for Gold alongside himself.
Gold located himself carefully and began to eat. When the company had forgotten him a bit, he ventured to address them:
"I have brought you the latest news, for I see no one knows it, as yet. . . ."
He took a newspaper from his side pocket and began to read aloud: "Miss Snilowska, the noted and talented artist of the provincial theaters, playing under the pseudonym of 'Nicolette' has received permission to make her debut in the Warsaw Theater. She will make her first appearance next Tuesday in Sardou's Odette. We hope that the management, in engaging Miss Snilowska, has added a very valuable acquisition to the stage."
He folded away the paper and calmly continued to eat. The company was struck dumb with amazement.
"Nicolette on the Warsaw stage! . . . Nicolette making her debut! . . . Nicolette! . . ." they whispered with subdued voices.