COX (opens letter—starts). Goodness gracious!
BOX (snatching letter—starts). Gracious goodness!
COX (taking letter again). “Margate—May the 4th. Sir,—I hasten to convey to you the intelligence of a melancholy accident which has bereft you of your intended wife.” He means your intended!
BOX. No, yours! However, it’s perfectly immaterial—but she unquestionably was yours.
COX. How can that be? You proposed to her first!
BOX. Yes, but then you— Now don’t let us begin again. Go on.
COX (resuming letter). “Poor Mrs. Wiggins went out for a short excursion in a sailing-boat—a sudden and violent squall soon after took place, which it is supposed upset her, as she was found, two days afterwards, keel upward.”
BOX. Poor woman!
COX. The boat, sir! (Reading). “As her man of business, I immediately proceeded to examine her papers, among which I soon discovered her will, the following extract from which will, I have no doubt, be satisfactory to you: ‘I hereby bequeath my entire property to my intended husband.’” Excellent but unhappy creature! (affected).