HELMS [_beating his breast_]. Well, he's my grandson and he's only your
godson.
KRAKAU [_incredulously_]. So--e?
HELMS. Well, isn't he your godson?
KRAKAU. Yes.
HELMS. Then why do you say so--e like that?
KRAKAU [_restraining himself_]. We'd better not talk about that. I told
you so before.
HELMS. But, damn it, I insist upon talking about it. I want to know what
you mean.
KRAKAU. That's all right.
HELMS. It isn't the first time you've made the same stupid remark.... Do
you mean to insinuate that he isn't my grandson? Is that what you're
driving at?
KRAKAU. For the third time, let's drop the subject. [_Down in the
courtyard a hand organ begins to play._] There's the old organ
grinder.... This is Thursday.
HELMS. You needn't tell me. I can hear for myself.
KRAKAU. It's your turn to give him something.
HELMS. I have no small change. Lay it out for me.
KRAKAU. Remember you owe me for the pack of matches.
HELMS. This will make seventeen.
KRAKAU. [_Wraps a coin in a bit of paper._] I just want to make sure
you've got it right. You always argue about it afterwards.
HELMS. Hmm!
KRAKAU. [_Opens the window, throws out the coin. The music plays more
vigorously, then suddenly stops._] The porter is chasing him away.... I
suppose it's because Larsen is sick downstairs.
HELMS [_laughs angrily_]. Huh! You were in an awful hurry about throwing
that money down, weren't you? Well, I won't pay you for that.
KRAKAU [_hastily closing the window_]. What kind of a way is that?
HELMS. You should have waited until he'd played a few tunes.
KRAKAU. How was I going to know the porter would chase him away?
HELMS. That's your lookout. You should have waited, then you would have
seen, I won't pay you back.
KRAKAU. You're a damned old swindler, Helms, and you always were.
[_Turns away and pulls out his pipe._]
HELMS [_sees the pipe_]. I can't bear tobacco smoke to-day; my throat's
too bad.
KRAKAU. Let me tell you something; I take no orders from you.
HELMS. I'll complain to the superintendent. Smoke hurts my throat, and
you know it.
KRAKAU. Huh! Won't you complain to your postal clerk son-in-law, too?
HELMS. No, but I'll tell Knut when he comes. I don't see why I let you
be his godfather anyway. They wanted some one else, but I said: "No,
let's ask Krakau; it will please him." I was a fool.
KRAKAU. You asked me because you knew I'd give him a handsome present.
Old miser that you are!
HELMS. But you've always been jealous because I am his grandfather while
you are only his godfather.
KRAKAU. So--!
HELMS [_furious_]. Don't you dare to smoke, do you hear!
KRAKAU. Who's smoking? [_Puts the pipe back in his pocket._]
HELMS. You needn't pretend you are not jealous. Why, when my daughter
was alive and came to visit me here you used to crawl over to your own
side and hide your envious face.
KRAKAU. She didn't come to see me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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