First Well-Informed Man (bristling with indignation, as he lays down his newspaper). Well, I'm dashed!
Inquirer (nervously). What's up?
First W. I. M. What's up! Everything's up. Up the spout, that's where this blessed country will be if this kind of thing's going on.
Inquirer. What kind of thing?
First W. I. M. Why, all this gerrymandering kind of business.
Inquirer. Oh, by the way, that reminds me. I came on that word the other day. Can any of you chaps tell me what it means?
First W. I. M. It's as plain as a pikestaff. It means playing ducks and drakes with things all round, and letting the whole business go thoroughly rotten.
Inquirer. Has it got anything to do with jerry-builders?
First W. I. M. It's the same thing precisely.
Inquirer (insisting). But what's the point of calling 'em jerry? Where does that come in?