BOX. No, _yours!_ However, it's perfectly immaterial--but she unquestionably was yours. COX. How can that be? You proposed to her first! BOX. Yes, but then you-- Now don't let us begin again. Go on. COX (_resuming letter_). "Poor Mrs. Wiggins went out for a short excursion in a sailing-boat--a sudden and violent squall soon after took place, which it is supposed upset her, as she was found, two days afterwards, keel upward." BOX. Poor woman! COX. The boat, sir! (_Reading_). "As her man of business, I immediately proceeded to examine her papers, among which I soon discovered her will, the following extract from which will, I have no doubt, be satisfactory to you: 'I hereby bequeath my entire property to my intended husband.'" Excellent but unhappy creature! (_affected_). BOX. Generous, ill-fated being! (_affected_). COX. And to think that I tossed up for such a woman! BOX. When I remember that I staked such a treasure on the hazard of a die! COX. I'm sure, Mr. Box, I can't sufficiently thank you for your sympathy. BOX. And I'm sure, Mr. Cox, you couldn't feel more, if she had been your own intended! COX. _If_ she'd been _my own_ intended? She _was_ my own intended! BOX. Your intended? Come, I like that! Didn't you very properly observe just now, sir, that I proposed to her first? COX. To which you very sensibly replied that you'd come to an untimely end. BOX. I deny it! COX. I say you have! BOX. The fortune's mine! COX. Mine! BOX. I'll have it! COX. So will I! BOX. I'll go to law! COX. So will I! BOX. Stop--a thought strikes me. Instead of going to law about the property, suppose we divide it. COX. Equally? BOX. Equally. I'll take two-thirds. COX. That's fair enough--and I'll take three-fourths. BOX. That won't do. Half and half! COX. Agreed! There's my hand upon it-- BOX. And mine. (_About to shake hands--a Postman's knock heard at street door._) COX. Holloa! Postman again! BOX. Postman yesterday--postman to-day. _Enter MRS. BOUNCER._ MRS. B. Another letter, Mr. Cox--twopence more! COX. I forgive you again! (_Taking letter._) Another trifle from Margate. (_Opens the letter--starts._) Goodness gracious! BOX (_snatching letter--starts_). Gracious goodness! COX (_snatching letter again--reads_). "Happy to inform you--false alarm"-- BOX (_overlooking_). "Sudden squall--boat upset--Mrs. Wiggins, your intended"-- COX. "Picked up by a steamboat"-- BOX. "Carried into Boulogne"-- COX. "Returned here this morning"-- BOX. "Will start by early train, to-morrow"-- COX. "And be with you at ten o'clock, exact." (_Both simultaneously pull out their watches._) BOX. Cox, I congratulate you-- COX. Box, I give you joy! BOX. I'm sorry that most important business of the Colonial Office will prevent my witnessing the truly happy meeting between you and your intended. Good-morning (_going_).