Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 3.djvu/78

. Come along. (They see the .)

. What's this? Who's that fellow? Let's give him a start. (Both together) Hulloa! Hulloa!

. Wa-a-a!

(both laughing). Well! This is funny!

. Oh, it's you fellows, is it? No doubt the bad luck you've had lately sent you here?

. Precisely. Just so.

. And what did you come as?

. He came as a blindman and I as a cripple. And what are you?

. Well, you see, as folks say that I've a particularly glib tongue, I went in for a change and became a mute.

. Yes, indeed. You were a regular mute just now.

. Our host has gone away for four or five days. Didn't he put you in charge of anything?

. Certainly we are in charge. The Blindman has the Chinese room, and I have the strong-room.

. Oh, ho! Those are very nice things!

. And you, are you in charge of anything?

. I am looking after the cellar.

(both). That's better still.

. I'll tell you my idea. Let's first open the cellar that I am in charge of, and have a drink. Then we'll open the strong-room and play a few games; and then we'll open the Chinese room and clear out with its contents.

(together). That'll be first-rate.

. Come along then, come along. I'll open the cellar. Here we are. Here we are. Here's the door. (Zara zara, sound of door opening.) Dear me,