POLORUS

[Somewhat sniffishly] Yes, my dear Doctor Piso, they are very tiresome. I'm glad I've been able to give them up.

PISO

[Waspishly] Give them up? I, Doctor Polorus, I never give them up! I pull them through.

POLORUS

[Rather floored; apologetically] I don't mean patients; I mean cases.

PISO

[Put into good humour by the success of his repartee] But I mean neither patients nor cases; I mean husbands.

POLORUS

[Amiably, trying to make peace] I suppose he was drunk, as usual.