The "act" devolved upon these three people; the lodger making love to the girl in the short blue dress, the boy playing all manner of tricks upon him, giving him tremendous digs in the ribs or slaps upon the back that made him cough, pulling chairs from under him, running on all fours between his legs and upsetting him, knocking him over at inopportune moments.

Every one of his falls was accentuated by a bang upon the bass drum.

The whole humor of the "act" seemed to consist in the tripping up of the intoxicated lodger.
This horse-play delighted McTeague beyond measure.

He roared and shouted every time the lodger went down, slapping his knee, wagging his head.
Owgooste crowed shrilly, clapping his hands and continually asking, "What did he say, ma?
What did he say ?" Mrs.Sieppe laughed immoderately, her huge fat body shaking like a mountain of jelly.

She exclaimed from time to time, "Ach, Gott, dot fool!" Even Trina was moved, laughing demurely, her lips closed, putting one hand with its new glove to her mouth.
The performance went on.