“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, addressing the public, “through our inadvertency there has arisen a comical misunderstanding which has been removed; but I’ve hopefully undertaken to do something at the earnest and most respectful request of one of our local poets. Deeply touched by the humane and lofty object⁠ ⁠… in spite of his appearance⁠ ⁠… the object which has brought us all together⁠ ⁠… to wipe away the tears of the poor but well-educated girls of our province⁠ ⁠… this gentleman, I mean this local poet⁠ ⁠… although desirous of preserving his incognito, would gladly have heard his poem read at the beginning of the ball⁠ ⁠… that is, I mean, of the matinée. Though this poem is not in the programme⁠ ⁠… for it has only been received half an hour ago⁠ ⁠… yet it has seemed to us ”⁠—(Us? Whom did he mean by us? I report his confused and incoherent speech word for word)⁠—“that through its remarkable naivete of feeling, together with its equally remarkable gaiety, the poem might well be read, that is, not as something serious, but as something appropriate to the occasion, that is to the idea⁠ ⁠… especially as some lines⁠ ⁠… And I wanted to ask the kind permission of the audience.”