[_Turning his chair to face LUKYN._] Alexander Lukyn--when I look at you--when I look at you---- [_He attempts to put on his spectacles._] Ah--my nose. [_To LUKYN._] I say, when I look at you, Alexander Lukyn, I confront a most mournful spectacle. A military officer, trained in the ways of discipline and smartness, now, in consequence of his own misdoings, lamentably bruised and battered, shamefully disfigured by plaster, with his apparel soiled and damaged--all terrible evidence of a conflict with that power of which I am the representative. LUKYN. [_Turning his chair to face MR. POSKET._] Well, Posket, if it comes to that, when I look at you, when I look at you--[_He attempts to fix his glass in his eye._] Confound my nose! [_To MR. POSKET._] When I look at you, _you_ are not a very imposing object, this morning. MR. POSKET. Lukyn! LUKYN. You look quite as shaky as I do--and you're not quite innocent of court plaster. MR. POSKET. Lukyn! Really! LUKYN. And as for our attire, we neither of us look as if we had slipped out of a bandbox. MR. POSKET. Don't, Lukyn, don't! Pray respect my legal status! [_MR. WORMINGTON leads MR. POSKET, who has risen, back to his seat._] Thank you, Wormington. Alexander Lukyn, I have spoken. It remains for you to state your motive in seeking this painful interview. LUKYN. Certainly! H'm! You know, of course, that I am not alone in this affair? MR. POSKET. [_Referring to charge sheet._] Three persons appear to be charged with you. LUKYN. Yes. Two others got away. Cowards! If ever I find them, I'll destroy them! MR. POSKET. Lukyn! LUKYN. I will! Another job for you, Posket. MR. POSKET. [_With dignity._] I beg your pardon, in the event of such a deplorable occurrence, I should not occupy my present position. Go on, sir. LUKYN. Horace Vale and I are prepared to stand the brunt of our misdeeds. But, Posket, there are ladies in the case. MR. POSKET. In the annals of the Mulberry Street Police Court such a circumstance is not unprecedented. LUKYN. Two helpless, forlorn ladies. MR. POSKET. [_Referring to charge sheet._] Alice Emmeline Fitzgerald and Harriet Macnamara. Oh, Lukyn, Lukyn! LUKYN. Pooh! I ask no favour for myself or Vale, but I come to you, Posket, to beg you to use your power to release these two ladies without a moment's delay. [_MR. WORMINGTON touches MR. POSKET'S shoulder._ MR. POSKET. Upon my word, Lukyn! Do you think I am to be undermined? LUKYN. Undermine the devil, sir! Don't talk to me! Let these ladies go, I say! Don't bring them into Court, don't see their faces--don't hear their voices--if you do, you'll regret it! MR. POSKET. Colonel Lukyn! LUKYN. [_Leaning across the table and gripping MR. POSKET by the shoulder._] Posket, do you know that one of these ladies is a married lady? MR. POSKET. Of course I don't, sir. I blush to hear it. LUKYN.