THE DYNASTS ACT v
SEVERAL MEMBERS Haw-haw-haw!
THIRD MEMBER
Then he made another point. After enumerating our frightful failures—Spain, Walcheren, and the rest —he said: " But Ministers have not failed in everything. No; in one thing they have been strikingly successful. They have been successful in their attack upon Copenhagen—because it was directed against an ally ! " Mighty fine, wasn't it?
SECOND MEMBER How did Castlereagh stomach that ?
THIRD MEMBER
He replied then. Donning his air of injured innocence he proved the honesty of his intentions— no doubt truly enough. But when he came to Walcheren nothing could be done. The case was hopeless, and he knew it, and foundered. However, at the division, when he saw what a majority was going out on his side he was as frisky as a child. Canning's speech was grave, with bits of shiny ornd-ment stuck on — like the brass nails on a coffin, Sheridan says.
Fifth and sixth members stagger in, ann-and-arm.
FIFTH MEMBER
The Vision is — jority of ninety-six againsht— Gov'ment—I mean—againsht us. Which is it—hey ?
(To his companion.)
SIXTH MEMBER
Damn majority of—damn ninety-six—against damn amendment!
(They sink down on a sofa." 346