Ad.  Ah!  Plumper—­if the name on his hat-box is to be believed; A. Plumper, too.  I wonder whether A. stands for Adolphus?  I don’t feel flattered.

El.  Now that is nothing but Tory prejudice.  I am sure he looks very distinguished, though his name is Plumper.  I have no doubt he’s a self-made man.

Pl.  Pup-pup-pup-pardon me, madam; shall I put the window up?  I see you feel the dud-dud-dud-draught.

El.  Thank you.  No; I prefer it open.  But may I ask you to lend me your ‘Echo’? it’s a paper I like so much, and so seldom see.

Fl.  Cheap, but not nasty; enjoys a vast circulation among the middle classes.  The Conservatives are as far behind us in journalistic capacity as they are in parliamentary eloquence.

Pl.  You must make allowances for my friend.  He’s on the pup-pup-pup-press himself, and expects shortly to get into Pup-pup-pup-Parliament.

El.  Oh, I do so hope he will!  You don’t think there is a reaction setting in, do you?  Papa says that Mr Gladstone is losing his hold on the country.

Lord Gules [awaking with a snort].  Not, however, before the country has lost its hold upon him.  He cares no more for his country, sir, than I do for the Chinese in California.  He’s a traitor, sir, to his principles; he’s—­

El.  Oh, papa, do stop!—­here we are at the Victoria—­and we have no right to judge any one so harshly.  I assure you such strong expressions only make me feel more and more convinced how wrong you must be. [To Plumper, handing back his paper.] Thank you so much.  I’m so sorry I have not had time to read it.

Lady G.  Good-bye, Mr Gresham; remember that you have promised to dine with us to-morrow night.  We shall be quite alone; but I am sure you don’t care about a party.

Ad.  I need not say with what pleasure I shall look forward to it. Au revoir, Lady Elaine. [Aside.] You do not know how you have been tempting me to abandon all my cherished political convictions for your sake.  It is to be hoped that the Radicals will not follow up their success with the caucus by organising the young ladies of their party and letting them loose on society as propagandists of their Utopian ideas and political fallacies.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II.—­Lady Gules’s Boudoir.  Elaine and Adolphus.

Ad.  Dear Lady Elaine, Lady Gules has given me special permission and opportunity to explain myself more fully than was possible yesterday.  Please tell me why you were so surprised at what I said, and why you think me so very objectionable?