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No. 10: DUET (Baroness & Rudolph)
"As o'er our penny roll we sing"
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| Baroness. |  |
| As o'er our penny roll we sing, It is not reprehensive To think what joys our wealth would bring Were we disposed to do the thing Upon a scale extensive. There's rich mock-turtle — thick and clear — |
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| Rudolph. (confidentially) | |
| Perhaps we'll have it once a year! | |
| Baroness. (delighted) | |
| You are an open-handed dear! | |
| Rudolph. | |
| Though, mind you, it's expensive. | |
| Baroness. | |
| No doubt it is expensive. | |
| Both. | |
| How fleeting are the glutton's joys! With fish and fowl he lightly toys, |
| Rudolf. |
| And pays for such expensive tricks Sometimes as much as two-and-six! |
| Baroness. (surprised) |
| As two-and-six? |
| Rudolph. |
| As two-and-six! |
| Both. |
| Sometimes as much as two-and-six! |
| Baroness. |
| It gives him no advantage, mind — For you and he have only dined, And you remain when once it's down A better man by half-a-crown. |
| Rudolph. (doubtfully) |
| By half-a-crown? |
| Baroness. (decisively) |
| By half-a-crown! |
| Both. (dancing) |
Yes, two-and-six is half-a-crown. Then let us be modestly merry, |
| Baroness. |  |
| Although as you're of course aware (I never tried to hide it) I moisten my insipid fare With water — which I can't abear — |
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| Rudolph. | |
| Nor I — I can't abide it. | |
| Baroness. | |
| This pleasing fact our souls will cheer, With fifty thousand pounds a year We could indulge in table beer! |
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| Rudolph. | |
| Get out! | |
| Baroness. | |
| We could — I've tried it! | |
| Rudolph. | |
| Yes, yes, of course you've tried it! |
| Both. |
| Oh, he who has an income clear Of fifty thousand pounds a year — |
| Baroness. |
| Can purchase all his fancy loves Conspicuous hats — |
| Rudolph. |
| Two-shilling gloves — |
| Baroness. (doubtfully) |
| Two-shilling gloves? |
| Rudolph. (positively) |
| Two-shilling gloves! |
| Both. |
| Yes, think of that, two-shilling gloves! |
| Baroness. |
| Cheap shoes and ties of gaudy hue, And Waterbury watches, too, And think that he could buy the lot Were he a donkey, |
| Rudolph. |
| Which he's not! |
| Baroness. |
| Oh no, he's not! |
| Rudolph. |
| Oh no, he's not! |
| Both. (dancing) |
That kind of donkey he is not! Then let us be modestly merry, |
(Exit Baroness.)
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Page Created 19 June, 2006