"We are sorry to announce the death of ..." um, um. (_reads_) "_Spain on the eve of a crisis._" ... There were three while I was there. Nobody took any notice of them. What's this? "Hotel der Schwein and die Pfeife"--that's here--"Mrs. Penelope Anne Knox." .... Don José de Boxos, she's yours. You've only got to propose, and she's yours. Tell her you're a Spanish grandee, and offer her a position as Spanish grand_she_. Don Boxos, you've only got to give yourself a brush up, and she's yours. (_Taking up COX'S glass of water which he has left on table_) I wish myself every possible success! To my future happiness! (_drinks._) Ugh! (_suddenly makes fearfully wry faces. The clock strikes. Re-enter COX, R.H._) COX. Punctual to the moment. (_Seeing glass empty_) Confound it, dash it--who's taken my sulphur wasser? I say who (_sees BOX who is slowly recovering_)--Have you--(_starts_) Can I believe my eyes? BOX. I don't know. COX. It _must_ be--. BOX. If it _must_ be, then in that case (_opens his eyes and recognises COX_). Ah! COX. Box! BOX. Cox! [_They are about to rush into each other's arms, when they think better of it, and shake hands rather coolly._ BOX. How d'ye do? COX. How are you? BOX. Very well, sir. COX. Very well, sir! (_Aside_) I don't like the look of this. BOX (_aside_). I don't like the taste of _that_. COX (_aside_). What's Box here for? BOX (_aside_). Has Cox been trying to poison himself--and poisoned me? COX (_aside_). He mustn't stay here. BOX (_aside_). Cox must go. I don't think I feel as well as I did. COX. Ahem! BOX. Ahem! COX. I beg your pardon, you were going to say-- BOX. On the contrary, I interrupted you-- COX. No, you speak first. _Seniores priores._ BOX. In that case you have the preference. Why, I'm quite a chicken by the side of you. COX. Pooh, sir. BOX. Well, if you don't like "chicken" I'll say gosling. COX. Don't be absurd, sir. At what age were you born? BOX. What's that to you? I'm six years younger than you, whatever you are. COX. So am I. So you speak first. BOX. This is absurd. I'm only a visitor. You're a resident. COX. No I'm not. I'm only _ong parsong_. BOX. Ong Parsong? Why, you don't mean to say you've become a clergyman? Archbishop Cox, I congratulate you. (_Our two curates, who are among the audience, see the joke and laugh sweetly._) COX. Don't be a fool. Are you stopping here? BOX. Well, that depends. Are _you_? COX. Well--(_shrugging his shoulders and stretching out his hands_). BOX. Ah! (_imitates action_) That's exactly my case. COX. It's time for me to go out and take the waters. You've taken mine for me. BOX. If you don't feel any better after it than I do--What's the effect of the waters? COX (_aside_). I'll frighten him. (_Aloud_) If you're unaccustomed to them--poisonous. BOX. Good gracious! The first draught then is-- COX. Fatal. Deadly. BOX.