'Only for the sake of speaking out of metre,' replied Dubb; at which the Brethren looked at one another and lifted their eyebrows.
'Well, at all events,' said Gyp, recovering his good-humour, 'we want to get the King out and put the usurper in his place.'
'Has anything been done to prepare the people for this change?' inquired Yellow-cap. 'Are they on our side?'
'We've got fifty paid claqueurs—I know that,' said Atub.
'And we have suspended the rule about full-dress in the stalls,' added Dubsix.
'Ah!' exclaimed Menin, nodding his head and crossing his feet on the table in republican style, 'there is a great deal in that.'
'How are you going to depose him?' Yellow-cap asked.
'In the usual way,' said Gyp: 'by finding a rhyme to him, and then putting him under foot.'
'But suppose he won't be deposed?'
'Ah, it will be our turn then,' said Ruba gloomily. 'He will appoint a successor, and we shall be repeated backwards.'