Viljalmar Andersen faced the thousands in the audience and held up his hands, but it was ten minutes before he was able to quiet the cheering, stamping delegates from all Earth.
Finally: "Fellow Terrans, I shall not take your time for a lengthy introduction of the envoy from the stars. I will only say that, without doubt, this is the most important moment in the history of the human race. We will now hear from the first being to come to Earth from another world."
He turned and gestured to Dameri Tass who hadn't been paying overmuch attention to the chairman in view of some dog and cat hostilities that had been developing about his feet.
But now the alien's purplish face faded to a light blue. He stood and said hoarsely. "Faith, an' what was that last you said?"
Viljalmar Andersen repeated, "We will now hear from the first being ever to come to Earth from another world."
The face of the alien went a lighter blue. "Sure, an' ye wouldn't jist be frightenin' a body, would ye? You don't mean to tell me this planet isn't after bein' a member of the Galactic League?"
Andersen's face was blank. "Galactic League?"
"Cushlamachree," Dameri Tass moaned. "I've gone and put me foot in it again. I'll be after getting kert for this."
Sir Alfred was on his feet. "I don't understand! Do you mean you aren't an envoy from another planet?"
Dameri Tass held his head in his hands and groaned. "An envoy, he's sayin', and meself only a second-rate collector of specimens for the Carthis zoo."