CHAPTER VIII.
REVELATION OF BUNNING (I) 1 On that evening the College Debating Society exercised its mind over the question of Naval Defence.
One gentleman, timid of voice, uncertain in wit, easily dismayed by the derisive laughter of the opposite party, asserted that "This House considers the Naval policy of the present Government fatal to the country's best interests." An eager politician, with a shrill voice and a torrent of words, denied this statement.

The College, with the exception of certain gentlemen destined for the Church (they had been told by their parents to speak on every possible public occasion in order to be ready for a prospective pulpit), displayed a sublime and somnolent indifference.

The four gentlemen on the paper had prepared their speeches beforehand and were armed with notes and a certain nervous fluency.

For the rest, the question was but slightly assisted.
The prospective members of the Church thought of many things to say until they rose to their feet when they could only remember "that the last gentleman's speech bad been the most preposterous thing they had ever had the pleasure of listening to--and that, er--er--the Navy was all right, and, er--if the gentleman who had spoken last but two thought it wasn't, well, all they--er--could say was that it reminded them--er--of a story they had once heard (here follows story without point, conclusion or brevity)--and--er--in fact the Navy was all right.
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