“GENTLEMEN,—I am—ahem—!—I beg your pardon,
But, ahem! as first low com. of Common Garden—
No, I don’t mean that, I mean to say,
That if we were—ahem!—to pay
So much per quarter for our quarterns, [Cries of ‘Hear!’]
Import our own champagne and ginger-beer;
In short, small duty pay on all we sup—
Ahem!—you understand—I give it up.”
The speech was ended,
And Bob descended.