Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 3.djvu/75

. Thank you, Sir. With your permission. (Goes inside, and the door is closed.)

. I'm a famous gentleman at large belonging to this neighbourhood. Keeping company with those "boys" and playing games with them, I've lost all my money and my house and property into the bargain. I don't see my way to get a living, but I hear that a rich fellow over there has put up a placard promising that infirm folks shall be supported. I haven't any natural infirmity, but as I'm particularly strong in the legs, I'm going to make a radical change and be a cripple for the time. Now to hurry to the place. (En route) Well! Well! What an idiot I've been! I found it so amusing, so amusing; and now I've come to this! But repentance is of no use. Well, here I am! Now to be a regular cripple. Within there! Within there! (calling at the gate.)

. Somebody outside. Who's there?

. It's I; a cripple come on account of the placard posted up.

. What's that? A cripple come on account of the placard? Why, you are quite young. How sad! I'll support you, by all means. Come in.

. Thank you, Sir. With your permission. (Goes in, and the door is closed.)

. I'm a well-known gambler of this neighbourhood. Keeping company with idle fellows of late and playing games, I've had a terrible run of bad luck, and lost not only all my money but even my wife's clothes into the bargain. I don't see any way of supporting myself, but I hear that a rich fellow over there has put