— Excuse me, but are you a superior
person?
— I beg your pardon?
— Oh, I’m sure you’ll understand. We’re making a
census of all the really
patriotic people - the right sort of people, you know - of course,
you
understand what I mean - so would you
mind giving me your word? —
and signing here, please - that you are
a superior person - that’s all we
need to know —
— Really, I don’t know what you take me
for!
— Yes, I know! It’s too bad! Of course, it’s
perfectly superfluous to ask,
but the League insists. Thank you so much! No, sign here, please,
and
there I countersign. That’s right! Yes, that’s all! - I
declare I am a
superior person. - Yes, exactly! and here I countersign your
declaration.
It’s so simple, and really, it’s all we
need to know about anybody. And
do you know, I’ve never been denied a signature! We English
are a solid
people, after all. This proves it. Quite! Thank you so much!
We’re
getting on simply splendidly - and it is a comfort, isn’t it? —