Will.  How?

Peggy.  Have you forgotten what you made Jack say about Mr. Schmidt:  a great hulking brute of a Dutchman, who has no thought of anything in the world but his cash-drawer!

Will.  Well—­I have to have a story!

Peggy. But you don’t have to have such a melancholy story!

Will. Yes I do!

Peggy. But why?

Will. Because that’s the sort of story I’m writing!  Come along now. (turns to papers.  Bell rings again.) Oh, Lord!

Peggy (opens door Left). What’s this?

The Policeman. Good-day, mum.

Peggy and Will. Why—­good-day.

Policeman. I come to see yez, mum.  Yez have a mattress on yer fire-escape, mum.

Peggy. Why—­yes.

Policeman. It’s agin the law mum, and yez could be got into trooble.  I got strict orders, mum—­yez must have it in.

Peggy. Oh, very well.  I didn’t know.

Policeman Yez kin see how ’tis, mum.  If there’d be a fire—­

Peggy. Oh, certainly, certainly.  But you see, it’s the only place we have to put the little boy while we’re writing.

Policeman. Oh, is that so?  Well, now, that’s too bad!  Sure, mum——­well, ‘tis on the back fire-escape the mattress is, an’ I’d no business to be seein’ it, had I?  I’ll fergit that I seen it.

Peggy. Oh!  Thank you.

Policeman. And how is the little b’y, mum?

Peggy. He’s pretty well, thank you.

Policeman. He’s a bit pale in the cheeks, I’m thinkin’.  Yez should have him over to the park a bit more.  Well, good-day to yez, mum.

Peggy, Bill and Will. Good-day.

Peggy. There, Will!  Off in your local color again.  I’ll bet you the Policeman would have paid Jack’s bill himself!

Will (irritably). Well, for God’s sake, Peggy, what sort of a story would you leave me?  Have I got to write cheap cheer-up stuff?

Peggy. Now don’t be cross, dear.

Will. Well, I know—­but——­

Peggy (embraces him). Poor dear!  He’s working so hard and he does get cross with his critics.  Hurry up, Bill, and get outside, or he’ll snap your head off!  Quick!  Fly!

Bill (exit to fire-escape). Gee!  I’m glad I ain’t writing a play!

Peggy. Now, come on.  I’m interested in this.  Where were we?

Will. The scene is in the restaurant.  Schmidt is on——­

Peggy. I thought he went off!

Will. Well, there’s no law to prevent his coming back, is there? (The Play-play begins to appear.) He’s grumbling because he thinks Jack will eat too much. (Full light on Play-play.  Peggy and Will make secret exit.)

Schmidt. I send him by Schnitzelman on der next block!  I send him so soon as I find him eating double orders!  He haf noddings to eat for two days und he comes by me to make it up! (Sits at desk, and takes newspaper.)