es while we're at it."

"What is that going to be? . . . an insertion?" Rosinska asked Mrs.
Piesh who was busily crocheting something.

"Yes, do you see what a nice design it is? I got a sample from the
directress."

Again there followed a moment of complete silence in which was heard
nothing but the even voice of the stage-manager, the dripping of the
rain and the buzz of the saw in the dressing-room.

"Let me have a cigarette," said Wawrzecki turning to Wladek. "Did
you win anything at cards yesterday?"

"I lost, as usual, just as I was on the point of making a big haul
of three hundred rubles. Some luck, eh? . . . A certain plan has
occurred to my mind! . . ." Wladek leaned over toward Wawrzecki and
began to whisper secretly into his ear.

"What have you done about your living quarters?" Krzykiewicz asked
Glas, handing him a cigarette.

"Oh, nothing, I'm still living in the same place."

"Are you paying your rent?"

"Not yet, but soon!" answered the comedian, winking one of his eyes.

"Listen Glas! I heard that Cabinski is buying a house on Leszno
Street."

"What are you trying to tell me! By Gad, I'd immediately move into
it to make up for the salary he owes me. Where would he get the
money?"

"Ciepieszewski saw him with the agents who have the house for sale."

"Nurse!" called Cabinska.

The nurse hastily entered carrying a letter under her apron.

"It wasn't I, it was Felka who broke that looking-glass. She threw a
champagne bottle aiming at the chandelier, but struck the mirror
instead. Bang! and immediately thirty rubles were added to the bill.
That fat guy of hers merely frowned," one of the chorus girls was
relating.

"Don't lie! I was not drunk and I remember exactly who broke it,"
retorted Felka.

"You remember do you? Do you also remember how you jumped off the
table and then took off your shoes and . . . ha! ha! ha! ha!"

"Be quiet there!" sharply called Topolski to the chorus girls.

They subdued their voices, but Mimi began almost aloud to tell
Kaczkowska about a new style of hat she had seen on Long Street.

"If it goes on that way much longer, I won't be able to stand it!
The landlord has ordered me to move. Yesterday I pawned almost the
last rag, for I had to buy my Johnnie some wine. The poor little
fellow is convalescing so slowly. He already wants to get out of bed
and is getting restless and peevish. If Ciepieszewski doesn't engage
me and pay me in advance, the landlord