_Pussy._ It's only to get me that _Graphic_--I'm sure that gentleman over there has done with it. [_The_ Adorer _fetches it with a lengthening face_: PUSSY _retires behind the "Graphic," leaving him outside in solitude. At length he asserts himself by fetching "Punch," (which he happens to have seen) from an adjoining table. A Bachelor dining lonely and unloved on the opposite side of the room, watches them with growing sense of consolation._ AT THE SPEAKING-TUBE. _Waiter._ Una voce poco fa maccaroni! _(At least, it sounds something like this. A little cupboard arrives by the lift containing a dish which the_ Waiter _hastens to receive. The new arrival is apparently of a disappointing nature,--he returns it indignantly, and rushes back to tube._) La ci darem la mano curri rabbito Gorgonzola! _A Voice (from bottom of lift--argumentatively)._ Batti, batti; la donna é mobile risotto Milanaise. _Waiter (losing his temper)._ Altro! Sul campo della gloria vermicelli! _The Voice (ironically)._ Parla tele d'amor o cari fior mulligatawni? _Waiter (scathingly)._ Salve di mora casta e pura entrecote sauce piquante crême à l'orange cotelettes pommes sautés basta-presto! [_Corks up tube with the air of a man who has had the best of it._ AT ANOTHER TABLE. _Two Brothers are seated here, who may be distinguished for the purposes of dialogue as the_ Good Brother _and the_ Bad Brother _respectively. The_ Good B. _appears (somewhat against his will) to be acting as host, though he restricts his own refreshment to an orange, which he eats with an air of severe reproof._ The Bad B. _who has a shifty sullen look and a sodden appearance generally, is devouring cold meat with the intense solemnity of a person conscious of being more than three parts drunk. Both attempt to give their remarks an ordinary conversational tone._ _The Bad B. (suddenly, with his mouth full)._ Will you lend me five shillings? _The Good B._ No, I won't. I see no reason why I should. _The B. B. (in a low passionate voice)._ Will you lend me five shillings? _The G. B. (endeavouring to maintain a virtuous calm)._ I don't _think_ I will. _B. B._ You've been giving money away all the afternoon to people after _I_ asked you for some! _G. B. (roused)._ I was _not_. It's dashed impertinence of you to say such a thing as that. I'm sick of this dashed nonsense--sick and tired of it! If I hadn't some principle left still, I should have gone to the East long ago! _B. B._ I'm glad you didn't. I want five shillings. _G. B._ Want five shillings! You keep on saying that, and never say what you want it _for_. You must have some object. Do you want it to go and get drunk on? _B. B. (with a beery persistence)._ Lend me five shillings. _G. B. (reflectively)._ I don't intend to. _B. B. (in a tone of compromise)._ Then lend me a sovereign. _G. B. (changing the subject with a chilling hospitality)._ Would you like anything after that beef? _B. B. (doggedly)._ I should like five shillings.