Enter SALLY from house with decanter and wine-glasses on a tray, which she places on a small table in C.—GRITTY sits L. and SKRUFF R. Exit SALLY into house.
GRITTY (pouring out a glass of wine). There, Samuel—tell me what you think of that (SKRUFF sips the wine). Zounds, man, it won’t hurt you, down with it! (SKRUFF takes down the wine at a gulp, almost choking himself.)
GRITTY (after tossing off his glass of wine). How the deuce is it that my old friend Skruff hasn’t found his way down to see me all these years?
SKRUFF. Well, the fact is, Mr. Gritty, my father has often talked of paying you a visit— Thank you, I don’t mind taking just one more glass (holding out his glass to GRITTY, who fills it—SKRUFF tosses it down.) Let me see—I was saying—
GRITTY. That your father has often talked of paying me a visit.
SKRUFF. Exactly—but the fact is— Well, since you insist upon it, I don’t mind just half a glass more (holding out his glass—GRITTY fills it half full.)
GRITTY. I think you said half a glass?
SKRUFF. Did I?—far be it from me to contradict you, but—(GRITTY laughs and fills up SKRUFF’S glass, which SKRUFF again tosses off.)
GRITTY. Now you haven’t told me why my old friend hasn’t been down to see me all these years.