AUGUSTUS. What you hear, madam, is the voice of my country, which
now takes a sweet and noble tone even in the harsh mouth of high
officialism.

THE LADY. Please go on. You express yourself so wonderfully!

AUGUSTUS. It would be strange indeed if, after sitting on
thirty-seven Royal Commissions, mostly as chairman, I had not
mastered the art of public expression. Even the Radical papers
have paid me the high compliment of declaring that I am never
more impressive than when I have nothing to say.

THE LADY. I never read the Radical papers. All I can tell you is
that what we women admire in you is not the politician, but the
man of action, the heroic warrior, the beau sabreur.

AUGUSTUS [gloomily]. Madam, I beg! Please! My military exploits
are not a pleasant subject, unhappily.

THE LADY. Oh, I know I know. How shamefully you have been
treated! what ingratitude! But the country is with you. The women
are with you. Oh, do you think all our hearts did not throb and
all our nerves thrill when we heard how, when you were ordered to
occupy that terrible quarry in Hulluch, and you swept into it at
the head of your men like a sea-god riding on a tidal wave, you
suddenly sprang over the top shouting "To Berlin! Forward!";
dashed at the German army single-handed; and were cut off and
made prisoner by the Huns.

AUGUSTUS. Yes, madam; and what was my reward? They said I