BOX. Sixes! COX. Sixes! BOX. Those are not bad dice of yours, sir. COX. Yours 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 each other._) _Enter MRS. BOUNCER, L. H. C._ BOX _and_ 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!