_Jack. (hesitates again, looks at clock, then goes to table. Belle brings napkin, etc., mechanically. He looks at card)._ I'll have a beef-stew. _(Hesitates.)_ I think I'll have a double order. _Belle._ Yes, sir. _Jack._ And a cup of coffee. _Belle._ Yes, sir. _(Goes Left feebly. Customer rises, pays check and exit. Belle brings order, and Jack begins to eat voraciously. Suddenly Belle staggers and catches at a chair. He starts.)_ _Jack._ Why, you're ill! _Belle (faintly)._ No, sir! No! _Jack._ But you are! _Belle (gazing in terror at Schmidt, who is reading)._ Ssh! Mr. Schmidt will hear you. _Jack (hesitates, then begins to eat again, but keeping an eye on Belle, who makes desperate efforts to keep steady)._ _Schmidt (looks up from paper, gazes through window and rises)._ Vat for a night for business! _(Goes Left, yawning; exit.)_ _Jack (still eating rapidly)._ You _have_ to work? _Belle_. Of course! _Jack_. Have you no friends--no people? _Belle_ (_hesitates_). I'm not supposed to talk to customers. _Jack_. But I'm asking you questions. _Belle_ (_gazing nervously Left_). Yes, but I mustn't talk. (_She clutches chair_.) _Jack_ (_springs up_). My God, you're done up. Sit down. _Belle_ (_in terror_). No, no, no! He'll hear you! He'd not keep me if he thought I was sick. _Jack_. Damn his soul! Have you no one to take care of you? _Belle_. I have a sister, sir. But she can't earn enough for two. Please let me be. _Jack_. Poor little girl! _Belle_. I'll be all right. It's near closing time. I'm tired--that's all. _Jack_. What time do you come on? _Belle_. At ten o'clock, sir. _Jack_. What, in the morning? _Belle_. Yes. _Jack_. Fourteen hours! And you have to stand up? _Belle_. Of course. _Jack_. The whole time? _Belle_. Oh, no! I have time for two meals. _Jack_. And that's all? _Belle_. It's the same everywhere, sir. They don't like you to sit down. It wouldn't look right. (_Seeing Schmidt entering Left_). Will you have some dessert, sir? _Jack_. No, not yet. (_He finishes food, then turns to Schmidt, hesitatingly_.) See here, my friend. _Belle_ (_in terror_). No, no! _Jack_ (_waving her aside_). I'm sorry, my friend, but I'm afraid you'll have to have me arrested. _Schmidt_. Hey? Vot? _Jack_. You'll have to have me arrested. _Schmidt_. Vot you mean? _Jack_. I mean--I've eaten a meal and I haven't any money to pay for it. _Schmidt_. No money! _Jack_. Not a cent. _Schmidt_. Aber--vy--how you dare? _Jack_. I was starving. I have walked the streets for two days begging for work, and I can't find any. I am wet, chilled to the bone, exhausted. Look at me---- _Schmidt_ (_in excitement_). Vot I got to do mit your looks? _Jack_. I had to have something to eat. _Schmidt_. But vy should _I_ feed you? Vy you come by _me_? _Jack_. I'll work for you, if I may. _Schmidt_. Vork? I don't vant no vork! I got all the vork as I need. I vant customers! _Jack._ You'll have to have me arrested, then.