YOUNG MAN [_upon wall throws a farewell kiss to the Cocotte, takes a heroic posture_]. With God! [_Makes a perfect dive into the river._]
AMERICAN [_at the end of the dock, brokenly_]. Poor Molly! [_Dries his eyes with handkerchief._] I'll endow a home for poor Parisians if she is brought back to me alive. [_To the Cocotte._] Oh, dear lady, I don't know whether I shall be able to meet you to-morrow at the Avenue de l'Opera. I have had a bereavement. [_Comes down to the pavement._] I must telephone to the lifeguard station. [_Exits into the café._] Poor Molly! All the insurance I carried on her is three thousand dollars. [_Exit with Artist into café, Right._] [_There is a brief pause._]
BEGGAR [_angrily_]. Damn his heart; the dog tender! I hope he drowns himself. Just as I was doing the best business in weeks that damn dog had to spoil everything. The scabby beast.
COCOTTE. How often have I asked you not to use those vulgar expressions.
BEGGAR. What! Is that how a daughter should speak to her father? You shameless wench! I'll teach you. I'll be lame again hereafter. For when I am lame I carry a stick and a stick is a good thing to have in your hand to teach a daughter respect. Ten francs; you know for the picture. [_While he speaks he is taking off his coat and vest, showing a cork life belt beneath._] That suicide trick is getting played out anyhow--hardly 50 francs--and I had to pay 20 for the place. Come my daughter, we will go home. [_Calls._] Waiter--Waiter!
COCOTTE. He doesn't hear you, papa--Waiter if you don't come at once we shall go without paying. [_The Waiter enters with hat wet._]
BEGGAR [_slips him a gold piece_]. Waiter, call a taxicab.
[_The Waiter takes the coin with a respectful bow, blows his taxi whistle. As the answering whistle of the taxicab and the honk of the horn are heard the Beggar and Cocotte exit ceremoniously and the curtain falls._
BY FRANK WEDEKIND TRANSLATED BY ANDRÉ TRIDON.
Copyright, 1913, by André Tridon. All rights reserved.
GERARDO [_Wagnerian tenor, thirty-six years old_]. HELEN MAROVA [_a beautiful dark-haired woman of twenty-five_]. PROFESSOR DUHRING [_sixty, the typical "misunderstood genius"_]. MISS ISABEL COEHURNE [_a blonde English girl of sixteen_]. MULLER [_hotel manager_]. A VALET. A BELL BOY. AN UNKNOWN WOMAN.