Part 25 (2/2)

TREBELL. I a.s.sure you that I am interested in the Disestablishment Bill.

_So they turn readily enough from the more uncomfortable part of their subject._

BLACKBOROUGH. Well ... here's Farrant.

FARRANT. I'm no good. Give me Agriculture.

BLACKBOROUGH. Pity you're in the Lords, Horsham.

TREBELL. Horsham, I'll devil for any man you choose to name ... feed him sentence by sentence....

HORSHAM. That's impossible.

TREBELL. Well, what's to become of my bill? I want to know.

BLACKBOROUGH. [_Casting his care on Providence._] We shall manage somehow.

Why, if you had died suddenly ... or let us say, never been born....

TREBELL. Then, Blackborough ... speaking as a dying man ... if you go back on the integrity of this scheme, I'll haunt you. [_Having said this with some finality, he turns his back._]

CANTELUPE. Cyril, I agree with what Trebell is saying. Whatever happens there must be no tampering with the comprehensiveness of the scheme.

Remember you are in the hands of the extremists ... on both sides. I won't support a compromise on one ... nor will they on the other.

HORSHAM. Well, I'll confess to you candidly, Trebell, that I don't know of any man available for this piece of work but you.

TREBELL. Then I should say it would be almost a relief to you if O'Connell tells on me to-morrow.

FARRANT. We seem to have got off that subject altogether. [_There comes a portentous tap at the door._] Good Lord!... I'm getting jumpy.

HORSHAM. Excuse me.

_A note is handed to him through the half opened door; and obviously it is at_ EDMUNDS _whom he frowns. Then he returns fidgetting for his gla.s.ses._

Oh, it turns out ... I'm so sorry you were blundered in here, Trebell ...

this man ... what's his name ... Edwards ... had been reading the papers and thought it was a cabinet council ... seemed proud of himself. This is from Wedgecroft ... scribbled in a messenger office. I never can read his writing ... it's like prescriptions. Can you?

_It has gradually dawned on the three men and then on_ TREBELL _what this note may have in it._ FARRANT _hand even trembles a little as he takes it. He gathers the meaning himself and looks at the others with a smile before he reads the few words aloud._

FARRANT. ”All right. He has promised.”

BLACKBOROUGH. O'Connell?

FARRANT. Thank G.o.d. [_He turns enthusiastically to_ TREBELL _who stands rigid._] My dear fellow ... I hope you know how glad I am.

CANTELUPE. I am very glad.

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