en bless you, Bouncer. Persevere. Go on supporting her.

COX.

I congratulate you, Bouncer. You may keep your Dowager to yourself.

PENELOPE.

And if you like to join us at the wedding-breakfast--

BOUNCER.

We shall be delighted--

PENELOPE.

Now, as always--

BOUNCER.

To see--

PENELOPE.

Two old friends.

BOUNCER.

Come, join hands. I'm an old soldier.

BOX.

You are.

BOUNCER.

I've stolen a march upon you.

COX.

You have.

BOUNCER.

But forgive and forget.

BOX.

I'll forget you with pleasure, but forgive--oh! Penelope Anne!

COX.

Well, I'll forgive you; but don't do it again.

BOUNCER.

I promise.

PENELOPE.

So do I.

BOX.

Do you? Then there's my hand, and when I've got my Castle in Spain you
shall come and stop with me. (_Aside_) I'll have old Bouncer up before
the Inquisition.

COX.

And when I've got my Palazzo di Coxo at Venice, you shall always find a
knife and fork at your service. (_Aside_) I'll take him out for a walk
by a canal and upset him.

[_Enter WAITER with tray, which he puts down. Everything
is placed ready for dejeuner a la fourchette._

WAITER.

Das Fruehstuck ist fertische.

(_Applause._)

ALL.

Eh?

WAITER.

Break-a-fast.

[_They sit._

BOX.

Permit me--

COX.

And me--

BOX.

To propose--

COX.

The health--

BOTH.

Of the Happy Pair. Major and Mrs. Bouncer. Hip! hip! hip! Hurrah!

BOX (_singing_).

It's a way we have in the army.

[_They all join in chorus._

SOLOS AND CHORUS.

("_Ha, ha!_" "_Les Dames de la Halle._")

BOX.

I drink the health of Madame Bouncer,
And of the Major Bouncer, too!

SOPRANO ET TENOR.

Too too too too too too too!

BASSI.

Too too too too too too too!

COX.

Of his foes he is a trouncer,
Equal to any Horse Guard Blue.

ALL.

Blue, &c. (_as before_).

BOX.

All our jealousy we smother
From this happy bridal day.

COX.

We'll embrace him like a brother

BOX.

And a sister--if I may!

PENELOPE ANNE.

Ah!

BOX AND COX (_together_).

Viva, Viva Rataplan!
Oh! Rataplan Penelope Anne,
Oh! Rataplan Penelope-elope
Anne, Anne, Anne!

CHORUS (_including the