The Brass Bottle: A Farcical Fantastic Play in Four Acts

tion of P

ard, on the contrary, is almost ostentatiously cheerful. Podbury is intensely anxious to find out how far his spirits are genuine, but-partly from shyness, and partly because some of t

ll-zug. I hope we shall get to Nuremberg be

d'h?te-not that I'm peckish. (He sighs.) Wonder wh

g red, and hums the Ga

-just arriving at St. Moritz, I expect

re a bar of crimson is flam

of a waltz.) Dum-dum-diddle-um-tum-dum-dum-dum-ty-doo

uld I be cut up, my de

tish Tourists tumble up into the compartment,

o Culchard.) Not in your way, this 'at box, Sir? Don't give yer much space in these foreign trains. (They settle down and the tr

D O' THE BEST P

boiled-looking eyes). What I notice about the cou

riendly contempt). What d'yer

y, they don't 'ave nothing to indicate wh

n-they've as muc

ces and 'edges. I don't see none 'e

or fences in the Isle o' Thanet, as yo

about Margit now, I'm talkin' of 'ere, a

they've their own ways

I'm sayin' there ain't nothin' to indic

n you really aren't cut

no reason that I'm aware of, why I should be-but (lowering his voice) do

rtic-at least. Well, I'm glad y

again-but his fac

.). See that field there?

t used to be with the passports. I've 'eard-mind yer, I don't know 'ow much likeli'ood there is in the assertion-that they're going to bring 'em in again. Most intricate they were about them. (To Culcha

'aving such things if th

and makes some guttural comments on the couple's tickets.) Wechseln? Why, that means wash, don't it? I'm as clean as him, anyway.

, including a lively and sociable little Cripple with a new drinking-mug which he

low, I don't mind owning I'm rather down in the mouth about--you know what. I

ear you say so. I was rather afraid you

e her awfully, you know, only sh

learn to appreciate you-er-fully when you meet again, which, I may tell you, will be at no very distant date. I happen

, danky. (To the little Cripple, who is cheerily inviting him, in pantomime, to drink from his mug. ) Chee

or feeling tolerably certain of it.

n of hers-Charley, y

ally admitted-(He glances round and lowers his voice.) I will tell you ano

derstand a word we're saying. I wa

about her while we are at Nuremberg together-it will be t

were doing all this, you know. But just

I really don't recollect that

u said you'd been speaking up for

about mysel

collar with a va

u haven't been arranging to

very grotesque idea of yours, m

le at all, and you only regarded her as a "study," and ro

ficient in surface refinement-but that will come, that will come. And a

h till-till you came in and set her against me, and you may think

o loud, I'm sure I

ops;the Cripple and all but the Pale-haired Lady get out.) Her

Bayrische

t and stick, &c.

hall go to some o

y too childish! There's no sense in travelling tog

ny further. Anyway, while I am

e. It's a matter of perfect indifference to me. I'm

h you and listening while you crow and drivel about her, that's

even know if ther

can find a pot-house

ury as he passes out). Pardon me, you will find clo

ights in some confusion; t

aid! Are you in earnest over this? (Podbury nods grimly.)

nks, we s

d goes in search of the Bayrischer-Hof Porter, to whom he entrus