SCENE IV.—_Grosvenor-square.

_Enter_ TURNSTILE, _musing_.

_Turnstile._ This will never do! They make use of me, and laugh at me in their sleeves;—push me round and go by. That break down _was_ a devil of a business! They didn’t laugh out to be sure; but they coughed and looked unutterably!! And where is this to end? What shall I have to show for it? Confounded loss of time;—to hear those fellows prosing, instead of seeing the occultation last night. And that book of Ls.’; so much that _I_ had begun upon,—and might have finished! It never will do! (_Rousing himself after a pause._) But knowledge, after all, _is_ power! That at least is certain,—power—to do what? to refuse Lord Doodle’s invitation; and to ask Lord Humbug for a favour, which it is ten to one he will refuse! But the Royal Society is defunct! That I _have_ accomplished. Gilbert, and the Duke! and the Secretaries! I have driven them all before me!—and, now, though _I_ must not be a knight of the Guelphic order, (yet a riband is a pretty looking thing! and {279} a star too!—) I will show that I can teach _them_ how to make knights; and describe the decorations that other men are to wear. But here comes Lord Flumm, and I am saved the bore of calling upon him.