"'Ow about 'Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road'?" Mr. Stevens suggested.
"Sir!" exclaimed Mr. Brimberly, pausing in the act of filling the glasses, "that's rather a—a low song, ain't it? What do you think, Mr. Jenkins?"
"Low?" answered Mr. Jenkins, "it's as low as—as mud, sir. I might say it's infernal vulgar—what?"
"Why, I don't care for it myself," Mr. Stevens admitted rather humbly, "it was merely a suggestion."
"With your good favour," said Mr. Brimberly, after a tentative sip at his glass, "I'll sing you a old song as was a rare favourite of my father's."
"Why, then," said Mr. Jenkins, taking up his banjo, "oblige us with the key."
"The key, sir?" answered Mr. Brimberly, pulling down his waistcoat, "what key might you mean?"
"The key of the note dominant, Brim."
Mr. Brimberly stared and felt for his whisker.
"Note dominant," he murmured; "I don't think my song has anything of that sort—"