[IMP _doubles himself up in a paroxysm of glee as the curtain falls_.
_A fortnight has passed. The curtain rises upon the same stage-setting. The_ JUDGE _is not about, but we see_ IMP _asleep in a chair. All seems quiet and serene. But suddenly the street-door opens noisily, and the_ FORMER POOR MAN _bursts into the room. He is panting, as though he had been running. He is haggard and seems in great pain, for occasionally he moans. He looks wildly about the room, and seeing_ IMP _asleep in the chair, he rushes to him and shakes him roughly_. IMP _wakes slowly, yawning and rubbing his eyes_.
FORMER POOR MAN. [_Frantically._] The Judge, where is he? I must see him at once.
IMP. [_Yawning._] You're too early. He isn't down yet.
FORMER POOR MAN. [_Walking the floor, and holding his hands to his stomach._] Don't go to sleep again. I'm nearly crazy. What time does the Judge get here? Where does he live? Can't we send for him?
IMP. [_Indifferently._] Oh, he is liable to come any minute--and then he may not come for an hour or two.
FORMER POOR MAN. [_Pacing the floor, moaning and rubbing his stomach_.] Oh, I can't stand it much longer. It's driving me wild, I tell you. I do wish the Judge would come.
IMP. [_Getting up from his chair and keeping step with the_ FORMER POOR MAN.] What's the matter? I thought all you wanted was to eat, drink, and be merry.
FORMER POOR MAN. [_Frantically waving his arms._] Eat, drink, and be merry be----! Everything I eat gives me indigestion something awful; everything I drink gives it to me worse. How can I be merry when I am in this torment all the time? I tell you this pain is driving me mad. I want to get rid of it quick. Oh, why doesn't the Judge come?
FORMER POOR MAN. [_Pathetically._] I am going to beg him to take back this indigestion and give me back my poverty. It was not so bad, after all; not nearly so bad as this pain in my stomach.
[_The street-door opens slowly, and a sorrowful woman enters. She is weeping softly. It is the_ VAIN WOMAN. _Gone is her posing and her proud manner. She walks humbly to the railing, and not seeing the_ JUDGE, she turns to IMP. _The_ FORMER POOR MAN _looks at the_ VAIN WOMAN, _frowningly muttering: "What's she here for?" Then he sits down at the left and rocks back and forth in misery._