SCENE--_A knick-knack stall outside the Wild West Arena.
Behind the counter is a pretty and pert maiden of seventeen
or so. A tall and stately Indian Warrior, wrapped in a blue
blanket, lounges up, and leans against the corner, silent and
inscrutable._
_The Maiden_ (_with easy familiarity_). 'Ullo, CHOC'LIT, what do
you want? (_The Chieftain smiles at her with infinite subtlety,
and fingers a small fancy article shaped like a bottle, in seeming
confusion._) Like to see what's inside of it? Look 'ere then. (_She
removes the cork, touches a spring, and a paper fan expands out of
the neck of the bottle; CHOCOLATE is grimly pleased, and possibly
impressed, by this phenomenon, which he repeats several times for his
own satisfaction._) Ah, _that_ fetches you, don't it, CHOC'LIT? (_The
Warrior nods, and says something unintelligible in his own tongue._)
Why don't yer talk sense, 'stead o' that rubbish?
[_CHOCOLATE watches her slyly out of the corners of his eyes;
presently he puts the bottled-fan inside his blanket, and
slouches off in a fit of pretended abstraction._
_The Maiden_ (_imperiously_). 'Ere, come back, will yer? Walkin' off
with my things like that! Fetch it 'ere--d'jear what I _tell_ yer?
(CHOCOLATE _lounges over the counter of an adjoining Bovril stall, and
affects a bland unconsciousness of being addressed. After awhile he
peeps round and pats his blanket knowingly, and, finding she takes no
further notice of him, lounges back to his corner again._) Oh, _'ere_
you are again! Now jest you put that bottle back. (_The Warrior
giggles, with much appreciation of his own playfulness._) Look sharp
now. I know you've got it!
_Chocolate_ (_with another giggle_). Me no got.
[_He intimates that the person at the Bovril stall has it._
_The Maiden._ You needn't think to get over Me that way! It's inside
o' that old blanket o' yours. Out with it now, or I'll make yer!
(_CHOCOLATE produces it chuckling, after which he loses all further
interest in it, his notice having been attracted by a small painted
metal monkey holding a miniature cup and saucer._) Want to buy one
o' them monkeys? (_She sets its head nodding at the Indian, who is
gravely interested in this product of European civilisation._) All
right, _pay_ for it then--they're ninepence each.
[_The Warrior plays with it thoughtfully, apparently in the
faint hope that she may be induced to make him a present of
it, but, finding that her heart shows no sign of softening to
such an extent, the desire of acquiring the monkey becomes so
irresistible that, after much diving into his robes, he fishes
up three coppers, which he tenders as a reasonable ransom._
_The Maiden_ (_encouragingly_). That's all right, so far as it _goes_;
you've on'y got to give me another sixpence--twice as much as that,
you know. Come on! (_CHOCOLATE meditates whether as an economical
Indian Chieftain, he can afford this outlay, and finally shakes his
head sadly, and withdraws the coppers._) Oh, very _well_, then;
please yourself, I'm sure! (_CHOCOLATE's small black eyes regard her
admiringly, as he tries one last persuasive smile, probably to express
the degree to which the possession of a nodding monkey would brighten
his existence._) It ain't a bit o' good, CHOC'LIT, I can't lower my
price for you; and what's more, I'm not going to!
[_CHOCOLATE examines the monkey once more undecidedly, then
puts it gently down with a wistful reluctance, and drifts
off._
_The Maiden_ (_calling after him_). You like to do _your_ shoppin'
cheap, don't you, CHOC'LIT? Everythink for nothen' is what _you_ want,
ain't it? _I_ know yer!
[_The Warrior stalks on impassively, ignoring these gibes;
whether he is reflecting on the beauty and heartlessness of
the Pale-face Maiden, or resolving to save up for the monkey
if it takes him a lifetime, or thinking of something else
totally different, or of nothing whatever, is a dark secret
which he keeps to himself._
* * * * *