_Lion-Tamer_ (_nettled_). No, I _don't_ know, dontcher know. And what's more I don't believe _you_ know, dontcher know, nor your guv'nors neither, for that matter. What _is_ your little game, anyhow? _Agent_ (_with some assumption of dignity_). We have _no_ "little game." Little Game is not the word. Lions, I believe, are generally called "Big Game," by NIMRODS and others. [_Sniggers as one who has scored._ _Lion-Tamer_ (_sardonically_). NIMROD, indeed! Ah! a mighty hunter before the Lords _you_ are, ain't you? You and your lot! Rural rabbits and parochial foxes are G----'s "Big Game," eh? _Agent._ This is neither the time nor the place to argue that point. Your business is lion-taming; ours is menagerie-managing. _Lion-Tamer_ (_scornfully_). All right, my noble swell! Manage _him_! [_Pointing to Lion, who is ramping and roaring._ _Agent._ Not at all, not at all! [_Spectators become impatient._ _Lion-Tamer._ Well, look here, do you want this lion tamed for you, or do you _not_? _Agent._ Why, cert'n'ly! Subject of course to the assistance--ahem!--I _should_ say _supervision_ of LOCH and myself. _Lion-Tamer._ Ah, "supervise" away as much as you please, only don't interfere with me. The old game! Stand by while I do the dangerous part of the business, hamper me as much as you can, and when, in spite of you all, I am successfully through, take the business--and the credit--over yourselves! _Agent_ (_aside_). Wonderful man, very. Wish I quite knew what to make of him. Lion-tamers, like fire, are excellent servants, but bad masters. All alike, all alike, CLIVE, WARREN HASTINGS, Rajah BROOKE, Jamaica EYRE, BARTLE FRERE, GORDON, all wonderful, and--in the end--very useful, but worrying, worrying! _Lion-Tamer_ (_proceeding_). Walk up, walk up, ladies and gentlemen! All in to begin! See the big black-maned African lion, fresh from Mashonaland wilds; bigger than CHURCHILL ever chased or SELOUS slew, or VAN AMBURGH subdued, tamed in the twinkling of an assegai, conquered in the 'tss! of a Hotchkiss, by the Great South African Lion-Tamer, RHODOROWDIDOW the Rumbistical. _Spectators._ Hooray! Hooray!! Hoo-_ray!!!_ _Agent_ (_aside_). How wonderfully popular these thrasonical wild-beast tamers and prancing proconsul sort of fellows are--with the gallery! _Lion-Tamer_ (_to attendant_). I say, just hand me the loaded whip, and--keep the poker hot, in case of emergency---- _Agent_ (_hurriedly_). Oh, here, I say; that will never do, RHODOROWDIDOW! _Lion-Tamer_ (_impatiently_). What do you mean? _Agent._ Why, you know, loaded bludgeons and red-hot pokers _read_ too much like--_Cruelty to Animals_! What _would_ LABBY and the Humanitarians say? You're none too popular already, you know, in certain quarters. Your masterful little ways and monetary success have put a good many backs up. We mustn't run any needless risks, RHODO. _Wouldn't_ this little toy-whip and this big bottle of (_medicated_) rose-water do as well?