Lady W. [Very low] What a little caution!

Lord W. Steady, old girl!  He’s got his eye on you!

     [Lady William looks at Lemmy, whose eyes are still fixed on
     her.]

Lady W. [With resolution] Well, I’m going to tackle him.

     [She moves towards Lemmy, who again wipes his brow, and wrings
     out his hand.]

Mrs. Lemmy.  Don’t ’ee du that, Bob.  Yu must forgive’im, Ma’am; it’s ’is admiration.  ’E was always one for the ladies, and he’m not used to seein’ so much of ’em.

Lady W. Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?

Mrs. Lemmy.  Speak up, Bob.

     [But Lemmy only shifts his feet.]

My gudeness!  ’E’ve a-lost ’is tongue.  I never knu that ’appen to ’e before.

Lord W. [Trying to break the embarrassment] No ill-feeling, you know, Lemmy.

     [But Lemmy still only rolls his eyes.]

Lady W. Don’t you think it was rather—­inconsiderate of you?

Lemmy.  Muvver, tyke me aht, I’m feelin’ fynte!

     [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.