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Page 66
(During this scene a wall screen, charmingly decorated with palm
trees and birds of paradise, has been taken away, disclosing a
wretched serving-counter and stand for beer mugs, behind which a
waitress is seen dispensing tots of spirits. Scavengers and
dirty-looking women go over to the counter and start drinking.)
STRANGER. Was I asked here to be insulted?
FATHER. Not at all. My friend's rather loquacious, but he's not
said anything insulting yet.
STRANGER. Isn't it insulting to be called a charlatan?
FATHER. He didn't mean it seriously.
STRANGER. Even as a joke I think the word arch-swindler slanderous.
FATHER. He didn't use _that_ word.
STRANGER. What? I appeal to the company: wasn't the word he used
arch-swindler?
ALL. No. He never said that!
STRANGER. Then I don't know where I am--or what company I've got
into.
RAGGED PERSON. Is there anything wrong with it?
(The people murmur.)
BEGGAR (comes forward, supporting himself on crutches; he strikes
the table so hard with his crutch, that some mugs are broken.) Mr.
Chairman! May I speak? (He breaks some more crockery.) Gentlemen,
in this life I've not allowed thyself to be easily deceived, but
this time I have been. My friend in the chair there has convinced
me that I've been completely deceived on the question of his power
of judgment and sound understanding, and I feel touched. There are
limits to pity and limits also to cruelty. I don't like to see real
merit being dragged into the dust, and this man's worth a better
fate than his folly's leading him to.
STRANGER. What does this mean?
(The FATHER and the DOCTOR have gone out during this scene without
attracting attention. Only beggars remain at the high table. Those
who are drinking gather into groups and stare at the STRANGER.)
BEGGAR. You take yourself to be the man of the century, and accept
the invitation of the Drunkards' Society, in order to have yourself
f�ted as a man of science. ...
STRANGER (rising). But the government. ...
BEGGAR. Oh yes, the Committee of the Drunkards' Society have given
you their highest distinction--that order you've had to pay for
yourself. ...
STRANGER. What about the professor?
BEGGAR. He only calls himself that; he's no professor really,
though he does give lessons. And the uniform that must have
impressed you most was that of a lackey in a chancellery.
STRANGER (tearing of the wreath and the ribbon of the order). Very
well! But who was the elderly man with the eyeglass?
BEGGAR. Your father-in-law!
STRANGER. Who got up this hoax?
BEGGAR. It's no hoax, it's quite serious. The professor came on
behalf of the Society, for so they call themselves, and asked you
whether you'd accept the f�te. You accepted it; so it became
serious!
(Two dirty-looking women carry in a dust-bin suspended from a stick
and set it down on the high table.)
FIRST WOMAN. If you're the man who makes gold, you might buy two
brandies for us.
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