"To tell you the truth," he admits, "I don't know!"
At that the door opens and in blows Genaro with the big dignified guy and "Bomb Germo" arises from the floor again, rubbin' the back of his head.
"What's a mat?" asks Genaro, lookin' very excited from me to the Kid. "Why you knock him down Meester Van Ness bureau?"
"Dresser!" corrects Van Ness, puttin' a round piece of glass over one eye and glarin' at us.
"'Scuse a me!" pipes Genaro, makin' a bow. "Why you knock him down Meester Van Ness dresser?"
The Kid growls at "Bomb Germo" who hisses back at him like a snake and backs out of range of that left.
"I asked him '_Bomb Germo_,'" explains Scanlan, "and he started to kid me!"
"_Bomb Germo_? _Bomb Germo_?" repeats Genaro. "What is she that _Bomb Germo_?"
"You're a fine Eyetalian, you are!" he snorts. "I'll bet you and that other guy don't know whether spaghetti is a outfielder or a race horse!"
Van Ness removes the one-cylinder eyeglass for a minute and cleans it with his "for display only" handkerchief.
"Maybe," he remarks. "Maybe the fellow means to say '_Buona Juerno_!'"
"Oh!" grins Genaro. "_Si_! He'sa mean 'Good morning!' No?"
"Yes!" says the Kid. "Correct! Step to the head of the class. I told that to Stupid there and he says, 'No spika da Engleesh!'"
"Well," chirps Genaro, pattin' the Kid on the back, "let's all be the friend now, no? What's the use hava the fight?" He turns to Van Ness and takes his hand, "Meester Van Ness," he goes on, "thisa Meester Kid Scanlan. He'sa tougha nut--but nica fel'. He'sa fighting champion of the world. He'sa taka his fista _so_," he stops and waves his arms around, "everybody she'sa falla down!" He swings around on the Kid. "Meester Kid Scanlan," he pants, "thisa Meester Van Ness. He'sa greata bigga actor. Oh, of the A numbera seven!"
"Yeh?" says the Kid, registerin' "I-should-worry!" and gazin' over at "Bomb Germo." "Well, that ain't my fault, is it? Who's the other guy?"
"The phoney wop!" pipes the Kid, pointin' to the long, thin bird.
"Oh, heem!" snorts Genaro, snappin' his fingers. "He'sa nobody. Justa what you call the dresser for the granda Meester Van Ness."
"He's got a name, ain't he?" asks the Kid.
"Good enough!" comes back Scanlan, walking across the room. "Hey, Tony!" he says. "They tell me you claim to be a Eyetalian."