Thank you Sir.
I appreciate it very much.

I'll go try slipping something in there and see if it will break free.


Update:
I got the 'far' end of the hose off...
but the part that is pictured still has me stymied.
I haven't resorted to cutting it yet.
I've tried loosening around the edges with a shim...
but it almost seems like the hose runs all the way through the device and out the other side.



You can see where there is 'drippage', presumably from the hose in question,
as the hose end is right above the drips, when the assembly is mounted properly.