_The_ KING _rises, and in stately manner addresses his guests in the words Cinderella conceives to be proper to his royal mouth. As he stands waiting superbly for the applause to cease, he holds on to a strap hanging conveniently above his head. To_ CINDERELLA _strap-hanging on the Underground has been a rare and romantic privilege._) KING. My loyal subjects, all ’ail! I am as proud of you as you are of me. It gives me and my good lady much pleasure to see you ’ere by special invite, feasting at our expense. There is a paper bag for each, containing two sandwiches, buttered on both sides, a piece of cake, a hard-boiled egg, and an orange or a banana. (_The cheers of the delighted courtiers gratify him, but the vulgar children over his head continue their rub-a-dub on the parapet until he glares up at them. Even then they continue._) Ladies and Gents all, pleasant though it is to fill up with good victuals, that is not the chief object of this royal invite. We are ’ere for a solemn purpose, namely, to find a mate for our noble son. All the beauties are waiting in the lobby: no wonder he is excited. (_All look at the_ PRINCE, _who is rocking and yawning_.) He will presently wake up; but first I want to say—(_here he becomes conscious of_ LORD TIMES). What is it? LORD TIMES. Less talk. KING. Certainly. (_He sits down._) PRINCE (_encouraged to his feet by various royal nudges_). My liege King and Queen-Mother, you can have the competitors brought in, and I will take a look at them; but I have no hope. My curse is this, that I am a scoffer about females. I can play with them for a idle hour and then cast them from me even as I cast this banana skin. I can find none so lovely that I may love her for aye from the depths of my passionate heart. I am so blasted particular. O yes! O yes! (_He sits down and looks helpless._) KING (_undismayed_). All ready? (_The_ LORD MAYOR _bows_.) All is ready, my son. PRINCE (_bored_). Then let loose the Beauts. (_To heavenly music from the royal hurdy-gurdies the_ BEAUTIES _descend the stairs, one at a time. There are a dozen of the fine creatures, in impudent confections such as_ CINDERELLA _has seen in papers in_ MR. BODIE’S _studio; some of them with ropes of hair hanging down their proud backs as she has seen them in a hair-dresser’s window. As we know, she has once looked on at a horse show, and this has coloured her conception of a competition for a prince. The ladies prance round the ball-room like high-stepping steeds; it is evident that_ CINDERELLA _has had them fed immediately before releasing them; her pride is to show them at their very best, and then to challenge them._ _They paw the floor wantonly until_ LORD TIMES _steps forward. Peace thus restored_, HIS MAJESTY _proceeds_.)