Chapter 5 Summary

Henry writes about how he works people to obtain free meals. All he needs to do is demand to be fed and people are mostly willing to oblige, especially if it is only once a week per person. He discovers that since so many give him meals, he can be selective. One of his favorite places to eat is Cronstadt's joint, because Cronstadt makes a chalk mark on the wall for each meal that Henry eats without paying. Henry has no intention of paying, and Cronstadt does not have any expectation of being paid. Cronstadt's wife does take payment in the form of carbon copies of Henry's writings. Tania plays the piano repetitively on the adagio, which bothers Henry, as he eats his free meal. Sylvester seems to enjoy her playing, and this sends Henry into a lengthy tirade on how Sylvester is...