That's what I says. That's cause the devil is still gettin' the better of our Lord Jesus. _Unnoticed and busy with the trap as before BRUNO has quietly re-entered by the door._ BRUNO [_With a strange intonation, sharply and yet carelessly._] Lamps! PAULINE That feller scares me. Lemme go! MRS. JOHN [_Makes violently for BRUNO._] Is you goin' to go where you belongs? I told you I'd call you! BRUNO [_In the same tone as before._] Well, Jette, I jus' said: Lamps! MRS. JOHN Are you crazy? What's the meanin' o' that--lamps? BRUNO Ain't that a ringin' o' the front bell? MRS. JOHN [_Is frightened, listens and restrains PAULINE, who makes a motion to go._] Sh, Miss, wait! Just wait one little minute! [_BRUNO continues whittling as the two women stop to listen._ MRS. JOHN [_Softly and in a frightened tone to BRUNO._] I don't hear nothin'! BRUNO You ol' dried up piece! You better go an' get another pair o' ears! MRS. JOHN That'd be the first time in all the three months that the manager'd be comin' in when it's Sunday. BRUNO If that there theayter feller comes, he c'n engage me right on the spot. MRS. JOHN [_Violently._] Don' talk rot! BRUNO [_Grinning at PAULINE._] Maybe you don' believe it, Miss, but I went an' took the clown's hoss at Schumann's circus aroun' the ring three times. Them's the kind o' things I does. An' is I goin' to be scared? PAULINE [_Seeming to notice for the first time the fantastic strangeness of the place in which she finds herself. Frightened and genuinely perturbed._] Mother o' God, what kind o' place is this? MRS. JOHN Whoever c'n that be? BRUNO 'Tain't the manager, Jette! More like it's a spout what's drippin'! MRS. JOHN Miss, you be so kind an' go for two minutes, if you don' mind, up into this here loft. Maybe somebody's comin' that just wants some information. _In her growing terror PAULINE does as she is asked to do. She clambers up the stairs to the loft, the trap door being open. MRS. JOHN has taken up a position in which she can, at need, hide PAULINE from anyone entering the room. PAULINE disappears: MRS. JOHN and BRUNO remain alone._ BRUNO What business has you with that pious mug? MRS. JOHN That ain't none o' your business, y'understan'? BRUNO I was just axin' 'cause you was so careful that nobody should see her. Otherwise I don't know's I gives a damn. MRS. JOHN An' you ain't supposed to! BRUNO Much obliged. Maybe I better toddle along, then. MRS. JOHN D'you know what you owes me, you scamp? BRUNO [_Carelessly._] What are you gettin' excited for? What is I doin' to you? What d'you want? I gotta go to my gal now. I'm sleepy. Las' night I slept under a lot o' bushes in the park. An' anyhow, I'm cleaned out--[_He turns his trowsers pockets inside out._] An' in consequence o' that I gotta go an' earn somethin'. MRS. JOHN