Mr. Skinner, of the Stock Exchange. What have you ready?
[_In an undertone to CIS._] I beg your pardon--very good--but Monsieur Blond he say to me, "Isidore, listen now; if Mr. Farringdon he come here, you say, I beg your pardon, you are a nice gentleman, but will you pay your little account when it is quite convenient, before you leave the house at once."
Quite so, there's no difficulty about that. What's the bill?
[_Gives the bill._] I beg your pardon. Eight pounds four shillings.
Phew! Here go my winnings from old Bullamy and the Guv. [_Counting out money._] Two pounds short. [_Turning to MR. POSKET, who is carefully examining the scratches on the mirrors._] Skinner! Skinner!
Visitors evidently scratch their names on the mirrors. Dear me! Surely this is a spurious title--"Lottie, Duchess of Fulham!" How very curious!
You always keep it in that pocket, Skinner.
[_CIS takes two sovereigns from MR. POSKET and gives the amount of his bill to ISIDORE, who goes to the sideboard to count out change._
Putting the change to bed! Isidore will show you. [_To ISIDORE, who comes to them with the change and the bill on a plate._] Isidore, show Mr. Skinner how you put silver to bed.
Oh, Mr. Farringdon, I beg your pardon--no, no!
Very good. [_Goes to the table, upon which he puts plate._] Say I have to give you change sixteen shillings.
Very good. Before I bring it to you I slip a little half-crown under the bill--so. Then I put what is left on the top of the bill, and I say, "I beg your pardon, your change." You take it, you give me two shillings for myself, and all is right.
[_Counting the silver on the bill with the end of his glasses._] Yes, but suppose I count the silver, it is half-a-crown short!
Then I say, "I beg your pardon, how dare you say that?" Then I do so. [_He pulls the bill from the plate._] Then I say, "The bill is eight pounds four shillings [_handing the plate_], count again."
Very good, then you give me five shillings for doubting me. Do it; do it.
[_In a daze, giving him the five shillings._] Like this?
Yes, like that. [_Slipping the money into his pocket._] I beg your pardon--thank you. [_Handing CIS the rest of the change._] Your change, Mr. Farringdon.
_BLOND, a fat, middle-aged French hotel-keeper, enters with a letter in his hand._