THE MAJOR GENERAL. Tell me, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan?
PIRATES. (disgusted) Oh, dash it all!
THE PIRATE KING. Here we are again!
GEN. I ask you, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan?
KING. Often!
GEN. Yes, orphan. Have you ever known what it is to be one?
KING. I say, often.
ALL. (disgusted) Often, often, often. (Turning away)
GEN. I don't think we quite understand one another. I ask you, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan, and you say "orphan". As I understand you, you are merely repeating the word "orphan" to show that you understand me.
KING. I didn't repeat the word often.
GEN. Pardon me, you did indeed.
KING. I only repeated it once.
GEN. True, but you repeated it.
KING. But not often.
GEN. Stop! I think I see where we are getting confused. When you said "orphan", did you mean "orphan" – a person who has lost his parents, or "often", frequently?
KING. Ah! I beg pardon – I see what you mean – frequently.
GEN. Ah! you said "often", frequently.
KING. No, only once.
GEN. (irritated) Exactly – you said "often", frequently, only once!
