The Modern Mathews: My dogs! Call them after the characters I play. Come here Davy—that's Garrick. I adopt the same plan with my horses. I've got a parrot upstairs—Cockie. You should see Davy and Cockie fight. Cockie's got a prize-fighter's nose—Davy broke it for him. Come upstairs.
THE SITTING-ROOM.
From a Photo by Elliott & Fry.
Again by the same arrangement we are transported to—
Scene III.—Sitting-room. Full of pictures of friends, presents, and pleasant memories. Cockie is in cage on table. Here a most scientific onslaught between parrot and dog takes place—of course, only playfully and purely in innocent fun—and owing to the favour with which it is received, the proper action of a little life-drama is delayed for a quarter of an hour.
The Modern Mathews (suddenly jumping up): Ha! there it is! there it is!
Interviewer: Good gracious! Anything wrong?
The Modern Mathews: Wrong, no—everything's right. My cigarette case (holds it up gleefully). Now, then—have a cigarette?
(Lights up!)