Hardly had I done so, when one of the young men started in a gentle voice an utterly indescribable ditty.

One by one they took it up, till the rising tide of voices drowned my fervent periods.

Perforce I stopped.

They were all on their feet now.

Did they mean to break up?
In despair at the idea I lifted up my voice, loud and distinct (the only distinct voice left in the room), in the most shameful verse of that shameful composition, and seizing my neighbor's hand began to move slowly round the table.