_KING H-MB-RT TO PRESIDENT H-RR-S-N._
Might think of it if you increased offer to _ten_ million dollars, and
would promise to return it within two years, in good repair, fair wear
and tear alone excepted.
_PRESIDENT H-RR-S-N TO KING H-MB-RT._
Syndicate says if they have to pay so much for Coliseum, _and_ return
it, they must have remains of Forum thrown in.
_KING H-MB-RT TO PRESIDENT H-RR-S-N._
Don't think we could spare ruins of Forum. Have you thought of
Vatican? We could easily spare _that_. Why not approach the POPE on
the subject?
_PRESIDENT H-RR-S-N TO KING H-MB-RT._
No, thanks! Sorry to have troubled you for nothing, but Syndicate
has now arranged to build a Coliseum of its own, double the size of
yours, and to reproduce Forum, Parthenon, Capitol, Vatican, as well
as Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey, out of old brown paper,
compressed and hardened by a new process. Ta-ta for present! Hope
you'll get over next Budget all right.
* * * * *
[Illustration: THINGS ONE WOULD(N'T) RATHER HAVE LEFT UNSAID.
(_In Mrs. Talbot de Vere Skynflynte's Drawing-Room, after one of her
grand Dinner-Parties where nobody gets enough to eat._)
_General Guzzleton_. "WHAT'S THAT? TEA? NO, THANKS. I NEVER TAKE TEA
UNLESS I'VE DINED!"]
* * * * *
ALL ADRIFT; OR, THREE MEN IN A PUNT.
Pages:
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34