CELIA. You seem annoyed. LORD MOUNT. Annoyed! I should think so! Why, this ridiculous protege of yours is playing the deuce with everything! To-night is the second reading of his Bill to throw the Peerage open to Competitive Examination! LORD TOLL. And he'll carry it, too! LORD MOUNT. Carry it? Of course he will! He's a Parliamentary Pickford—he carries everything! LEILA. Yes. If you please, that's our fault! LORD MOUNT. The deuce it is! CELIA. Yes; we influence the members, and compel them to vote just as he wishes them to. LEILA. It's our system. It shortens the debates. LORD TOLL. Well, but think what it all means. I don't so much mind for myself, but with a House of Peers with no grandfathers worth mentioning, the country must go to the dogs! LEILA. I suppose it must! LORD MOUNT. I don't want to say a word against brains—I've a great respect for brains—I often wish I had some myself—but with a House of Peers composed exclusively of people of intellect, what's to become of the House of Commons? LEILA. I never thought of that! LORD MOUNT. This comes of women interfering in politics. It so happens that if there is an institution in Great Britain which is not susceptible of any improvement at all, it is the House of Peers! SONG—LORD MOUNTARARAT. When Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess's time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess's glorious days! CHORUS. Yes, Britain won, etc. When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well: Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George's glorious days! CHORUS. Yes, Britain set, etc. And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain's rays As in King George's glorious days! CHORUS. As bright will shine, etc.