Design for Living Page #3

But the ringing in the ears

was the same.

Hello.

Hello.

Did you go out

for the laundry?

Hardly.

Why not?

Two cans of sardines,

5 francs.

Madame Poperino,

blackmail, 7.50 francs.

No laundry.

That's fine.

I haven't got a clean shirt

to my name.

Clean shirt?

What's up, a romance?

I'm not talking

about pajamas.

I'm talking

about a clean shirt.

I don't want to go around

looking like a rag picker.

I'm talking

about a white shirt,

a shirt without a spot,

without any holes

that won't fall apart

when you unbutton your coat.

How old is the laundress?

Hmm, about 45.

A young 45?

I don't know.

She goes barefoot.

She's rather plump,

a little soapy.

But a very

interesting moustache.

Very charming, very charming.

Not my type.

Moustache or no moustache,

I need a clean shirt for tomorrow.

"End of Act 1. Curtain. "

Don't read it,

I know it by heart.

You remember where Bassington

has found out

that Edgar was the man

on the fire escape?

All right, shoot.

There's a pause.

"Edgar smiles maddeningly. "

Go on. Go on.

"Bassington plays

with his beard

"in order to cover

his emotion.

"Edgar speaks:

"'I'm afraid, Bassington,

that you are right, but nonetheless boring. '

"Bassington studies

his fingernails

"like a man of the worid,

crosses to left.

"Edgar continues

strumming his mandolin.

"Bassington, resuming

with his beard.

"'I have only one thing

to say to you.

"'Lmmorality may be fun,

"'but it's not fun enough

to take the place of 100 percent virtue

'and three square meals

a day. "'

What's the matter?

So, double-crossing me, huh?

What are you

buzzing about?

You didn't write that speech alone,

and I know where you got it.

Well, if you think...

Don't try to lie out of it!

He was in here, Mr. Plunkett.

And it isn't difficult to guess

why he was here, either.

So, you've been

making love to Gilda.

Now, listen, if you...

I know! 100 percent virtue

and three square meals a day!

Wait a minute.

So you've heard

that speech before.

Where did you hear

that speech before?

Hmm. I see.

Clean shirt, eh?

So he caught you

with Gilda.

It's a lie!

He didn't catch me.

Very pretty work.

True-blue George.

Look who's talking

about true-blue.

I ought to bust you

right in that ugly pan of yours!

Let's behave

like civilized people.

It's quite apparent,

beyond any question,

that you behaved in this matter

as a rather common, ordinary rat.

I'm leaving.

Where's my suitcase?

Or have you sold it

to somebody?

This is a little silly,

after 11 years of friendship.

You should have

considered that earlier.

Do you mind

a personal question?

Not at all.

Are you pretty hard hit?

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