That's so. An' there was a man onct that didn't have no roof over his head ... No, that ain't the way to begin what I want to say.--I was onct out on the heath--far out. All of a sudden: what d'you think I heard, Doctor! I heard a dickens of a screechin'.--I goes up to it. Crows! Yes, sir. There was a feller hangin' high up in a pine tree--tailor's journeyman from over in Berkenbruck: he hanged hisself on account o' starvation--hanged hisself high up.--Yes, there's always got to be somethin' higher! [_While they finish drinking their beer the long-drawn cries of pain of a man's voice are heard from some distance. The wind has risen considerably._ DR. BOXER What is that? EDE Rauchhaupt. Nothin' to worry about. LANGHEINRICH Sounds kind o' gruesome, don't it? 'Tain't nothin' very lovely neither. When that feller's pains in his leg gets hold o' him an' he roars out that way o' nights--that goes right through an' through any one. No, before I'd stand pain like that I'd go an' put a bullet through my head. EDE Gee-rusalem! That's a wind again. Look out, Doctor, that your hat don't fly away. _A hat is whirled by the wind along the street. SCHMAROWSKI, hatless, a roll of paper in his hand, runs chasing it._ EDE Run along, sonny! Right on there! Show us what you c'n do! DR. BOXER That hat is tired of his position: wants a holiday. SCHMAROWSKI [_Who has recovered his hat, turns angrily to DR. BOXER._] What was that very appropriate remark you made just now? DR. BOXER That you are an excellent runner. SCHMAROWSKI Schmarowski! DR. BOXER Boxer! SCHMAROWSKI Much pleased.--Now I'd like to ask you a question. Do you know what a fathead is? DR. BOXER No. SCHMAROWSKI You don't? Neither do I. But now tell me: you know what a _schlemihl_ is, I suppose. LANGHEINRICH Nothin' broke loose here? What's all this about? Easy now, easy! Howdy do, Mr. Schmarowski? How are you? Have you come to visit your mother-in-law? SCHMAROWSKI I have business here!--And before I forget it, I should like to say: Have the goodness to be more careful. DR. BOXER Who is this amusing gentleman, Langheinrich? EDE That's Mrs. Wolff's son-in-law. SCHMAROWSKI I'll have no dealings with you at all. EDE Naw, you better not. SCHMAROWSKI Not with you--[_Turning to DR. BOXER._] But if you don't know who I am, you can get information from Baron von Wehrhahn, the Right Reverend Bishop, the Baroness Bielschewski and the Countess Strach. DR. BOXER You want me to go around and get information from all those people? SCHMAROWSKI That's what you're to do--just that an' nothing else. Then maybe you can be more careful in future an' look people over before you talk. LANGHEINRICH What's gotten into you to-day? You're so dam' touchy! SCHMAROWSKI