Inquirer. Lord Cromer! Who's he?
First W. I. M. My dear fellow, fancy not knowing that! Lord Cromer's our Ambassador at Cairo.
Second W. I. M. Oh, nonsense. There are no ambassadors at Cairo.
First W. I. M. Aren't there? Oh, indeed. Well, then perhaps you'll tell me what Lord Cromer is?
Second W. I. M. He's our Minister. That's what they call them.
Inquirer. Was it him the Khedive dismissed, then?
Second W. I. M. (laughing heartily). No, no; we haven't got to that yet. He dismissed his own Johnnies, of course; Egyptians. Lord Cromer's the English Minister.
Average Man. No, he isn't. He's the English Agent.
Second W. I. M. Oh, well, it's the same thing.
First W. I. M. (taking his revenge). No, it isn't at all the same thing; it's a very different thing. A Minister's only just short of an Ambassador, and an Agent (pauses)—well, he's something quite different. I don't think he gets as much pay for one thing, and of course he can't live in the Embassy.