All of them leant forward, calling attention loudly laughing for the fun to come.
'Gentlemen!' he said: and said it twice.

The gap was wide, and he said, 'Gentlemen!' again.
This commencement of a speech proves that you have made the plunge, but not that you can swim.

At a repetition of 'Gentlemen!' expectancy resolved into cynicism.
'Gie'n a help,' sang out a son of the plough to a neighbour of the orator.
'Hang it!' murmured another, 'we ain't such gentlemen as that comes to.' Mr.Raikes was politely requested to 'tune his pipe.' With a gloomy curiosity as to the results of Jack's adventurous undertaking, and a touch of anger at the three whose bearing throughout had displeased him, Evan regarded his friend.

He, too, had drunk, and upon emptiness.

Bright ale had mounted to his brain.