| Box.
|
Ain't you rather tired of turning up heads, sir?
|
| Cox.
|
Couldn't you vary the monotony of our proceedings by an occasional tail, sir?
|
| Box.
|
Heads? Stop, sir! Will you permit me—[Taking Cox's sixpence.] Holloa! your sixpence has got no tail, sir!
|
| Cox.
|
[Seizing Box's shilling.] And your shilling has got two heads, sir!
|
| Cox.
|
Swindler! [They are about to rush upon each other, then retreat to some distance, and commence sparring, and striking fiercely at one another.]
|
Enter Mrs. Bouncer, l. h. c.
| Box & Cox.
|
Is the little back second floor room ready?
|
| Mrs. B.
|
Not quite, gentlemen. I can't find the pistols, but I have brought you a letter—it came by the General Post yesterday. I'm sure I don't know how I forgot it, for I put it carefully in my pocket.
|
| Cox.
|
And you've kept it carefully in your pocket ever since?
|
| Mrs. B.
|
Yes, sir. I hope you'll forgive me, sir. [Going.] By the bye, I paid twopence for it.
|
| Cox.
|
Did you? Then I do forgive you. [Exit Mrs B. [Looking at letter.] "Margate." The post-mark decidedly says "Margate."
|
| Box.
|
Oh, doubtless a tender epistle from Penelope Ann.
|
| Cox.
|
Then read it, sir. [Handing letter to Box.]
|
| Cox.
|
Of course. You don't suppose I'm going to read a letter from your intended?
|
| Box.
|
My intended? Pooh! It's addressed to you—C. O. X.!
|
| Cox.
|
Do you think that's a C.? It looks to me like a B.
|
| Box.
|
Nonsense! Fracture the seal!
|
| Cox.
|
[Opens letter—starts.] Goodness gracious!
|
