Her terrible tale You can't assail, With truth it quite agrees: Her taste exact For faultless fact Amounts to a disease. POOH. Now though you'd have said that head was dead (For its owner dead was he), It stood on its neck, with a smile well-bred, And bowed three times to me! It was none of your impudent off-hand nods, But as humble as could be; For it clearly knew The deference due To a man of pedigree! And it's oh, I vow, This deathly bow Was a touching sight to see; Though trunkless, yet It couldn't forget The deference due to me! CHORUS. This haughty youth, He speaks the truth Whenever he finds it pays: And in this case It all took place Exactly as he says! [Exeunt Chorus. MIK. All this is very interesting, and I should like to have seen it. But we came about a totally different matter. A year ago my son, the heir to the throne of Japan, bolted from our Imperial Court. KO. Indeed! Had he any reason to be dissatisfied with his position? KAT. None whatever. On the contrary, I was going to marry him—yet he fled! POOH. I am surprised that he should have fled from one so lovely! KAT. That's not true. POOH. No! KAT. You hold that I am not beautiful because my face is plain. But you know nothing; you are still unenlightened. Learn, then, that it is not in the face alone that beauty is to be sought. My face is unattractive! POOH. It is. KAT. But I have a left shoulder-blade that is a miracle of loveliness. People come miles to see it. My right elbow has a fascination that few can resist. POOH. Allow me! KAT. It is on view Tuesdays and Fridays, on presentation of visiting card. As for my circulation, it is the largest in the world. KO. And yet he fled! MIK. And is now masquerading in this town, disguised as a Second Trombone. KO., POOH., and PITTI. A Second Trombone! MIK. Yes; would it be troubling you too much if I asked you to produce him? He goes by the name of—— KAT. Nanki-Poo. MIK. Nanki-Poo. KO. It's quite easy. That is, it's rather difficult. In point of fact, he's gone abroad! MIK. Gone abroad! His address. KO. Knightsbridge! KAT. (who is reading certificate of death). Ha! MIK. What's the matter? KAT.