WEDGEWOOD. I begin to perceive that I shall get into some confounded scrape if I stay here much longer, and so will my young friend Mr. Worrendorf, who has made me his confidant: but mum's the word! (Seeing the KING, who is in the act of taking snuff.) Ah, use snuff, my old boy?—Odd!—Thank you for a pinch. (Takes a pinch sans ceremonie, and without the King's consent. FREDERICK shuts the box angrily. WEDGEWOOD starts back in astonishment.—Aside.) Wonder who the old-fashioned brown jug can be! I'll take him by the handle and pour him out, and see what's in him.
KING.
Like the snuff?
WEDGEWOOD.
Yes (snuffs)—it's decent blackguard (snuffs)—quite decent.
KING.
Taste it again.
WEDGEWOOD.
Don't care if I do. (Helps himself.)
KING.
Perhaps you will also do me the favor to accept the box?
WEDGEWOOD (taking the box.)
If it is convenient. What am I to infer from this?
KING. That you and I cannot take snuff out of the same box. MY box is not large enough for two.
WEDGEWOOD (astonished.)
You don't say so! "Not large enough for two?" (Looks at the box.) Damn me if
I don't think it large enough for a dozen, unless they took snuff with a shovel!
(Aside.) Who in the name of all that's magnanimous can this old three-cornered
cocked-hatted cockolorum be?
KING.
You were overheard to say but now that you would like to see the king?