OST. 'Tis difficult to guess.

GRAIN. With her uncle. And he left her in the lurch--with a child--

HOST. A whole one, I hope.

GRAIN. 'Tis indelicate of you, Citizen Prosper, to jest about such
things.

HOST. I'll tell you what, Shrieking Pumice-stone, you--your family
history bores me. Do you think I'm here to listen to every Tom, Dick,
or Harry o' a ragamuffin telling me whom he has killed? What's all that
go to do with me? I take it you wish something of me.

GRAIN. Ay, truly. Citizen Prosper; I've come to ask you for
work.

HOST (sarcastically). I would have you mark that there are no aunts
to murder in my place--this is a house of entertainment.

GRAIN. Oh, I found the once quite enough. I want to become a
respectable member of society--I was recommended to come to you.

HOST. By whom, if I may ask?

GRAIN. A charming young man whom they put in my cell three days ago.
Now he's alone. His name's Gaston!... and you know him.

HOST. Gaston! Now I know why I've missed him for three evenings. One of
my best interpreters of pickpockets. He told yarns--ah! it made 'em
split their sides.

GRAIN. Quite so. And now they've nabbed him.

HOST. Nabbed--what do you mean? He didn't really steal I suppose.

GRAIN. Yes, he did. But it must have been the first time, for he
seems to have gone about it with incredible clumsiness. Just think of
it--(confidentially)--just made a grab at the pocket of a lady in the
Boulevard des Capucines, and pulled out her purse--an absolute amateur.
You inspire me with confidence, Citizen Prosper, and so I'll make a
confession to you. There was a time when I, too, transacted little bits
of business of that sort, but never without my dear father. When I was
still a child, when we all lived together, when my poor aunt was still
alive--

HOST. What are you moaning for! I think 'tis in bad taste. You ought
not to have killed her.

GRAIN. Too late. But the point I was coming to is--take me on here. I
will do just the opposite of Gaston. He played the thief and became
one--

HOST. I will give you a trial. You will produce a fine effect with
your make-up. And at a given moment you'll just describe the aunt
matter--how it all happened--someone or other will be sure to ask you.

GRAIN. I thank you, Citizen Prosper. And with regard to my wages--

HOST. Tonight you will play on trial, and I am, therefore, not yet in a
position to pay you wages. But you will get good stuff to eat and
drin