Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

     [A little crowd is gathering, including the Two English, the
     German, and the Dutch youth.]

Official.  ‘Verstehe absolut nichts’. [He taps the telegram] ’Ich muss mein’ duty do.

American.  But I’m telling you.  This is a white man.  This is probably the whitest man on Gawd’s earth.

Official.  ’Das macht nichts’—­gut or no gut, I muss mein duty do. [He turns to go toward the little man.]

American.  Oh!  Very well, arrest him; do your duty.  This baby has typhus.

     [At the word “typhus” the official stops.]

American. [Making gestures] First-class typhus, black typhus, schwarzen typhus.  Now you have it.  I’m kind o’ sorry for you and the gentleman in buttons.  Do your duty!

Official.  Typhus?  Der Bub—­die baby hat typhus?

American.  I’m telling you.

Official.  Gott im Himmel!

American. [Spotting the German in the little throng] here’s a gentleman will corroborate me.

Official. [Much disturbed, and signing to the policeman to stand clear] Typhus!  ‘Aber das ist grasslich’!

American.  I kind o’ thought you’d feel like that.

Official.  ‘Die Sanitatsmachine!  Gleich’!

     [A porter goes to get it.  From either side the broken half-moon
     of persons stand gazing at the little man, who sits unhappily
     dandling the baby in the centre.]

Official. [Raising his hands] ‘Was zu thun’?

American.  Guess you’d better isolate the baby.

     [A silence, during which the little man is heard faintly
     whistling and clucking to the baby.]

Official. [Referring once more to his telegram]

“’Rest gentleman mit black baby.” [Shaking his head] Wir must de gentleman hold. [To the German] ’Bitte, mein Herr, sagen Sie ihm, den Buben zu niedersetzen’. [He makes the gesture of deposit.]

German. [To the little man] He say:  Put down the baby.

     [The little man shakes his head, and continues to dandle the
     baby.]

Official.  You must.

     [The little man glowers, in silence.]

Englishman. [In background—­muttering] Good man!

German.  His spirit ever denies.

Official. [Again making his gesture] ‘Aber er muss’!

     [The little man makes a face at him.]

‘Sag’ Ihm’:  Instantly put down baby, and komm’ mit us.

     [The baby wails.]

Little man.  Leave the poor ill baby here alone?  Be—­be—­be d—–­d to you!

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Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.