COX. Sixes! BOX. Those are not bad dice of yours, sir. COX. Your's seem pretty good ones, sir. BOX. Suppose we change? COX. Very well, sir. [_They change dice._ BOX. [_Throwing._] Sixes! COX. Sixes! BOX. Sixes! COX. Sixes! BOX. [_Flings down the dice._] Pooh! It's perfectly absurd, your going on throwing sixes in this sort of way, sir. COX. I shall go on till my luck changes, sir! BOX. Let's try something else. I have it! Suppose we toss for Penelope Ann? COX. The very thing I was going to propose! [_They each turn aside and take out a handful of money._ BOX. [_Aside, examining money._] Where's my tossing shilling? Here it is! [_Selecting coin._ COX. [_Aside, examining money._] Where's my lucky sixpence? I've got it! BOX. Now then, sir,--heads win? COX. Or tails lose--whichever you prefer. BOX. It's the same to me, sir. COX. Very well, sir. Heads, I win,--tails, you lose. BOX. Yes--[_Suddenly_]--no. Heads win, sir. COX. Very well--go on! [_They are standing opposite to each other._ BOX. [_Tossing._] Heads! COX. [_Tossing._] Heads! BOX. [_Tossing._] Heads! COX. [_Tossing._] Heads! 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. [_Tossing._] Heads! COX. [_Tossing._] Heads! 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! BOX. Cheat! 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._] BOX. Me, sir? 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! BOX. [_Snatching letter--starts._] Gracious goodness! COX. [_Taking letter again._] "Margate--May the 4th. Sir,--I hasten to convey to you the intelligence of a melancholy accident, which has bereft you of your intended wife." He means _your_ intended!