Official. [Referring once more to his telegram]

“’Rest gentleman mit black baby.” [Shaking his head] Wir must de gentleman hold. [To the German] ’Bitte, mein Herr, sagen Sie ihm, den Buben zu niedersetzen’. [He makes the gesture of deposit.]

German. [To the little man] He say:  Put down the baby.

     [The little man shakes his head, and continues to dandle the
     baby.]

Official.  You must.

     [The little man glowers, in silence.]

Englishman. [In background—­muttering] Good man!

German.  His spirit ever denies.

Official. [Again making his gesture] ‘Aber er muss’!

     [The little man makes a face at him.]

‘Sag’ Ihm’:  Instantly put down baby, and komm’ mit us.

     [The baby wails.]

Little man.  Leave the poor ill baby here alone?  Be—­be—­be d—–­d to you!

American. [Jumping on to a trunk—­with enthusiasm] Bully!

     [The English clap their hands; the Dutch Youth laughs.  The
     official is muttering, greatly incensed.]

American.  What does that body-snatcher say?

German.  He say this man use the baby to save himself from arrest. 
Very smart he say.

American.  I judge you do him an injustice. [Showing off the little man with a sweep of his arm.] This is a white man.  He’s got a black baby, and he won’ leave it in the lurch.  Guess we would all act noble that way, give us the chance.

[The little man rises, holding out the baby, and advances a step or two.  The half-moon at once gives, increasing its size; the American climbs on to a higher trunk.  The little man retires and again sits down.]

American. [Addressing the official] Guess you’d better go out of business and wait for the mother.

Official. [Stamping his foot] Die Mutter sall ’rested be for taking out baby mit typhus.  Ha! [To the little man] Put ze baby down!

     [The little man smiles.]

Do you ’ear?

American. [Addressing the official] Now, see here.  ’Pears to me you don’t suspicion just how beautiful this is.  Here we have a man giving his life for that old baby that’s got no claim on him.  This is not a baby of his own making.  No, sir, this is a very Christ-like proposition in the gentleman.

Official.  Put ze baby down, or ich will goummand someone it to do.

American.  That will be very interesting to watch.

Official. [To policeman] Dake it vrom him.

     [The policeman mutters, but does not.]