Page:The Mikado or the town of titipu.djvu/45

 Information I'm requesting On a subject interesting: Is a maiden all the better when she's tough? Throughout this wide dominion It's the general opinion That she'll last a good deal longer when she's tough. Are you old enough to marry, do you think? Won't you wait till you are eighty in the shade? There's a fascination frantic In a ruin that's romantic; Do you think you are sufficiently decayed? To the matter that you mention I have given some attention, And I think I am sufficiently decayed. If that is so, Sing derry down derry! It's evident, very, Our tastes are one! Away we'll go And merrily marry, Nor tardily tarry Till day is done! [Exeunt together.

Now then, we've had a capital lunch, and we're quite ready. Have ail the painful preparations been made?

Your Majesty, all is prepared.

Then produce the unfortunate gentleman and his two well-meaning but misguided accomplices.

Mercy! Mercy for Ko-Ko! Mercy for Pitti-Sing! Mercy even for Pooh-Bah!

I beg your pardon; I don't think I quite caught that remark.

Mercy even for Pooh-Bah.

Mercy! My husband that was to have been is dead, and I have just married this miserable object.

Oh! You've not been long about it!

We were married before the Registrar.

I am the Registrar.

I see. But my difficulty is that, as you have slain the Heir Apparent—

The Heir Apparent is not slain.

Bless my heart, my son!

And your daughter-in-law elected!

(seizing ). Traitor, you have deceived me!