_Wednesday_.--May Day passed off quietly enough; but you can't have
air charged with electricity, and your back-cellars filled with
dynamite, without danger of explosion. Burst to-day in unlooked-for
place, in unexpected circumstances. HALDANE brought in Bill providing
that ratepayers should share with Duke of WESTMINSTER and other great
landowners benefit of unearned increment. Prospect alluring, but
debate not exhilarating. House nearly empty; ASQUITH delivering able
but not exciting speech in favour of Bill. Just sort of time and
circumstances when, in another place, Judge might be expected to fall
asleep on Bench. Citizen ROBERT GALNIGAD BONTINE CUNINGHAME GRAHAM,
sitting on Bench behind ASQUITH, listening like the rest of us to
his well-ordered argument. The Citizen a little tired with Sunday's
peregrination. Been walking about all day with stout stick in hand,
and blood-red handkerchief in pocket, ready for any emergency. At
favourable moment blood-red handkerchief would flash forth, tied on to
stick with timely twine, and there's your flag! Republic proclaimed;
Citizen GRAHAM first President, under title GALNIGAD I., and before
Secretary-of-State MATTHEWS quite knew where he was, he would be
viewing the scene from an elevated position pendant in Trafalgar
Square.

Chance had not come; GRAHAM still plain Citizen, in House of Commons
listening to commonplace proposals about unearned increment. This
evidently wouldn't do. Suddenly jumped up; shook fist at back of
ASQUITH's unoffending head, and, _à propos de bottes_, "wanted to know
about the swindling companies and their shareholders?"

ASQUITH really hadn't been saying anything about them; turning round
beheld Citizen GRAHAM glaring upon him, throwing about his arms as if
he were semaphore signalling to the rearguard of Republican Army.