Santa. Right you are; and as a reward for your years of faithful service I propose to share it with you.
Gus. (aside) I wish his idea would take the form of an increase in my salary. Ten dollars a month scarce suffices to keep me in raiment befitting my noble birth and high position, doncherno.
Santa. What were you saying, Gus?
Gus. I was saying, your majesty, that I would indeed be proud to share your first idea with you.
Santa. Well then, this is the scheme: I have brought back with me a man as green as the green isle from which he came, a regular Paddy of the old school. My daughter, having seen no men but you and me, will conclude that he is one of the choicest specimens of his species, and will thus be disenchanted.
Gus. The scheme looks well upon the face of it; I only hope that it may conclude even as your majesty wishes.
Santa. You hope that it may work! Why sir, it must work! Think of the position I would be in should my daughter ever marry! In six short months or less, my son-in-law would have my throne and I would lose my job; mayhaps, shorn of my kingly robes, be slinging hash to earn my daily bread.
(shudders
Gus. Well now, that’s clevah, deucedly clevah, by Jove.
Santa. What is that? Clever, did you say?