does? Are his eight hundred and seventy-five pounds a week paid him for
saying, 'Ladies and Gentlemen'?

"No!

"He would say more. He has more to say. This is only the beginning.
This tall, handsome man has all his music still within him.

"Why, then, does he say no more? Why does he say 'Ladies and
Gentlemen,' but no more? No more. Only that. No more. Nothing more. No
more.

"Because from the stalls a solid, vast, crushing 'Boo!' is hurled at
him. From the Russians in the stalls comes this vast, crushing 'Boo!'
It is for this that they have been waiting. It is for this that they
have been waiting so tensely. For this. They have been waiting for this
colossal 'Boo!'

"The General retreats a step. He is amazed. Startled. Perhaps
frightened. He waves his hands.

"From gallery and pit comes a hideous whistling and howling. The noise
of wild beasts. The noise of exploding boilers. The noise of a
music-hall audience giving a performer the bird.

"Everyone is standing on his feet. Some on mine. Everyone is shouting.
This vast audience is shouting.

"Words begin to emerge from the babel.