We assembled as arranged at 6.30, a large but select party, though Verimisti who had had a champagne tea with Jellipore and the ladies, had already reached the confidential stage, and after twice shaking hands warmly with everybody, at once started on Accrington with a pointless Italian story which lasted all through dinner. In addition to our crowd from Cecil’s we had Blandford of Barabbas’, a prominent sportsman, who contributes very generously to the University Chest per the Proctors, St. Quentin of Mary’s, and finally de Beresford. I am not very clear as to the events of that night after we reached the theatre; but I recollect quite distinctly that at dinner we emptied a prodigious number of bottles, chiefly in health-drinking, and that Verimisti’s speech in replying for Italy was a triumph of incomprehensibility. When our party of ten finally landed at the theatre in a most hilarious mood and all wearing purple carnations, the performance had already started, for we heard the first song being roughly handled by a crowded and enthusiastic house. As we filed into our seats, some of our friends in the dress circle cheered, and we had much difficulty in preventing Verimisti from replying. Blandford created the first diversion of the evening by omitting to turn down his seat, and collapsing with some suddenness on the floor. A large party of twenty-firsters from Barabbas’—most of whom knew Blandford—rose and cheered heartily, the chorus of female savages who occupied the stage passing entirely unnoticed. The entrance of Nokop—the King’s physician—however was greeted with great applause and the popular chorus of his song:—
We’ve potions and pills,
Curing all ills,
Dispensed by the great Nokop,
was taken up by everyone regardless of time and tune. We were particularly pleased with a gentleman in the second row who conducted the song with much greater success than the salaried official before the footlights. After the third encore, several entire strangers in the second row rose and shook his hand, while a person in a brown bowler hat and knicker-bockers appeared in the wings and made frantic signals to refuse further demands. Von Graussman, who seemed to be feeling the heat in the dress circle, here endeavoured to address the audience to the exclusion of King Caskowiski, who had just made an imposing entrance, and the following dialogue ensued:—
K.C. (in a dignified manner), ‘Welcome my dusky subjects.’
V.G. (suddenly struck by K.C.’s state robes), ‘You vas a Broctor.’
K.C. (continues), ‘Let our wives attend us to the palace.’
V.G. (apparently reassured on the former subject), ‘My vriends he vas a Mormon.’