COLLINS. Sorry to hurry you, my lord; but the Church has been full this hour past; and the organist has played all the wedding music in Lohengrin three times over. THE GENERAL. The very man we want. Alfred: I'm not equal to this crisis. You are not equal to it. The Army has failed. The Church has failed. I shall put aside all idle social distinctions and appeal to the Municipality. MRS BRIDGENORTH. Do, Boxer. He is sure to get us out of this difficulty. Collins, a little puzzled, comes forward affably to Hotchkiss's left. HOTCHKISS [rising, impressed by the aldermanic gown] Ive not had the pleasure. Will you introduce me? COLLINS [confidentially] All right, sir. Only the greengrocer, sir, in charge of the wedding breakfast. Mr Alderman Collins, sir, when I'm in my gown. HOTCHKISS [staggered] Very pleased indeed [he sits down again]. THE BISHOP. Personally I value the counsel of my old friend, Mr Alderman Collins, very highly. If Edith and Cecil will allow him-- EDITH. Collins has known me from my childhood: I'm sure he will agree with me. COLLINS. Yes, miss: you may depend on me for that. Might I ask what the difficulty is? EDITH. Simply this. Do you expect me to get married in the existing state of the law? SYKES [rising and coming to Collin's left elbow] I put it to you as a sensible man: is it any worse for her than for me? REGINALD [leaving his place and thrusting himself between Collins and Sykes, who returns to his chair] Thats not the point. Let this be understood, Mr Collins. It's not the man who is backing out: it's the woman. [He posts himself on the hearth]. LESBIA. We do not admit that, Collins. The women are perfectly ready to make a reasonable arrangement. LEO. With both men. THE GENERAL. The case is now before you, Mr Collins. And I put it to you as one man to another: did you ever hear such crazy nonsense? MRS BRIDGENORTH. The world must go on, mustnt it, Collins? COLLINS [snatching at this, the first intelligible proposition he has heard] Oh, the world will go on, maam dont you be afraid of that. It aint so easy to stop it as the earnest kind of people think. EDITH. I knew you would agree with me, Collins. Thank you. HOTCHKISS. Have you the least idea of what they are talking about, Mr Alderman?