Mr. De Gradient seconded the motion, and would also be happy to be the previous speaker's second, if necessary.
Mr. Shunt said that the Chairman was a Nass, the directors were umbugs, and he had no term of decision—he meant derision—strong enough for the secretary, engineer, and superintendent of the traffic. The whole lot were revolutionary aristocratic donothings and sneaks. (Cries of "That's about it!" "Put that in your minutes!")
The Chairman said that in his private capacity he despised the taunts of the last speaker too much to condescend to notice them. But as Chairman of that meeting, and representing its dignity, he felt it his duty to say that of all the offensive rapscallions whose ridiculous gabble was ever permitted to contaminate the ears of gentlemen, Mr. Shunt was at once the most audacious and the most contemptible. He had no desire to be severe, but this statement was the mildest version in which he could clothe the truth. He should now put the motion. (Cries of "Yes, you'd better!" "Down, down!" and more volleys of baked taturs.)
Mr. Fitzpiston rose to protest. Not a word had been heard of the report, and yet they were to be asked to adopt it. (Loud applause.)
The Chairman: And whose fault's that? If the meeting had not made such an unbusinesslike row, they would have heard it all.
A Shareholder: It was a dodge of the Secretary's, who read low in order not to be heard.
The Secretary (in a dreadful rage): If I read low I hit high. Will the honourable shareholder come round here and try?
The Shareholder: No, you are our menial servant, and it's your duty to wait on your masters. (Vollies of applause and taturs.)
The Secretary was here restrained, with some difficulty, by the Chairman, from taking off his coat and chastising the meeting. During the discussion, quarrelling was going on in all parts of the room. At length, the Secretary being appeased into only caricaturing his enemies, upon his blotting paper, instead of beating them, the Chairman again rose, and put the motion.
Mr. Shunt leaped upon the table, and, taking a sight at the Chair, moved as an amendment, that the report be pitched out of window, and the Directors after it. (Applause.)