[Spurts of the Marseillaise and the mutter of the crowd have
     been coming nearer; and suddenly a knocking is heard.  Poulder
     and James appear between the pillars.]

Poulder.  The populace, me Lord!

Lady W. What!

Lord W. Where’ve you put ’em, Poulder?

Poulder.  They’ve put theirselves in the portico, me Lord.

Lord W. [Suddenly wiping his brow] Phew!  I say, this is awful,
Nell!  Two speeches in one evening.  Nothing else for it, I suppose. 
Open the window, Poulder!

Poulder. [Crossing to the window] We are prepared for any sacrifice, me Lord.

     [He opens the window.]

Press. [Writing furiously] “Lady William stood like a statue at bay.”

Lord W. Got one of those lozenges on you, Nell?

     [But lady William has almost nothing on her.]

Lemmy. [Producing a paper from his pocket] ‘Ave one o’ my gum drops?

     [He passes it to lord William.]

Lord W. [Unable to refuse, takes a large, flat gum drop from the paper, and looks at it in embarrassment.] Ah! thanks!  Thanks awfully!

     [Lemmy turns to little Aida, and puts a gum drop in her mouth. 
     A burst of murmurs from the crowd.]

James. [Towering above the wine cooler] If they get saucy, me Lord, I can always give ’em their own back.

Lord W. Steady, James; steady!

     [He puts the gum drop absently in his mouth, and turns up to the
     open window.]

Voice. [Outside] ’Ere they are—­the bally plutocrats.

     [Voices in chorus:  “Bread!  Bread!”]

Lord W. Poulder, go and tell the chef to send out anything there is in the house—­nicely, as if it came from nowhere in particular.

Poulder.  Very good, me Lord. [Sotto voce] Any wine?  If I might suggest—­German—­’ock?

Lord W. What you like.

Poulder.  Very good, me Lord. [He goes.]

Lord W. I say, dash it, Nell, my teeth are stuck! [He works his finger in his mouth.]

Lady W. Take it out, darling.

Lord W. [Taking out the gum drop and looking at it] What the deuce did I put it in for?

Press. [’Writing] “With inimitable coolness Lord William prepared to address the crowd.”

     [Voices in chorea:  “Bread!  Bread!”]

Lord W. Stand by to prompt, old girl.  Now for it.  This ghastly gum drop!

     [Lord William takes it from his agitated hand, and flips it
     through the window.]

Voice.  Dahn with the aristo——­[Chokes.]

Lady W. Oh!  Bill——­oh!  It’s gone into a mouth!