ZOO.  Dissolve?  In what? [Thunder].  Oh!  My fault this time.  That means that the oracle understands you, and desires me to hold my tongue.

THE ENVOY [fervently] I thank the oracle.

THE WIFE [to Zoo] Serve you right!

THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN.  Before the oracle replies, I should like to be allowed to state a few of the reasons why, in my opinion, the Government should hold on until the spring.  In the first—­

Terrific lightning and thunder.  The Elderly Gentleman is knocked flat; but as he immediately sits up again dazedly it is clear that he is none the worse for the shock.  The ladies cower in terror.  The Envoy’s hat is blown off; but he seizes it just as it quits his temples, and holds it on with both hands.  He is recklessly drunk, but quite articulate, as he seldom speaks in public without taking stimulants beforehand.

THE ENVOY [taking one hand from his hat to make a gesture of stilling the tempest] Thats enough.  We know how to take a hint.  I’ll put the case in three words.  I am the leader of the Potterbill party.  My party is in power.  I am Prime Minister.  The Opposition—­the Rotterjacks—­have won every bye-election for the last six months.  They—­

THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN [scrambling heatedly to his feet] Not by fair means.  By bribery, by misrepresentation, by pandering to the vilest prejudices [muttered thunder]—­I beg your pardon [he is silent].

THE ENVOY.  Never mind the bribery and lies.  The oracle knows all about that.  The point is that though our five years will not expire until the year after next, our majority will be eaten away at the bye-elections by about Easter.  We can’t wait:  we must start some question that will excite the public, and go to the country on it.  But some of us say do it now.  Others say wait til the spring.  We cant make up our minds one way or the other.  Which would you advise?

ZOO.  But what is the question that is to excite your public?

THE ENVOY.  That doesnt matter.  I dont know yet.  We will find a question all right enough.  The oracle can foresee the future:  we cannot. [Thunder].  What does that mean?  What have I done now?

ZOO. [severely] How often must you be told that we cannot foresee the future?  There is no such thing as the future until it is the present.

THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN.  Allow me to point out, madam, that when the Potterbill party sent to consult the oracle fifteen years ago, the oracle prophesied that the Potterbills would be victorious at the General Election; and they were.  So it is evident that the oracle can foresee the future, and is sometimes willing to reveal it.

THE ENVOY.  Quite true.  Thank you, Poppa.  I appeal now, over your head, young woman, direct to the August Oracle, to repeat the signal favor conferred on my illustrious predecessor, Sir Fuller Eastwind, and to answer me exactly as he was answered.