Part 28 (2/2)

FARRANT. I'm trying to be accurate! [_Obviously their nerves are now on edge._] He said we should find him tough to a.s.similate--as he warned you.

HORSHAM _with knit brows, loses himself in thought again,_ BLACKBOROUGH _quietly turns his attention to_ FARRANT.

BLACKBOROUGH. Farrant, you don't seriously think that ... outside his undoubted capabilities ... Trebell is an acquisition to the party?

FARRANT. [_Unwillingly._] Perhaps not. But if you're going to chuck a man ... don't chuck him when he's down.

BLACKBOROUGH. He's no longer down. We've got him O'Connell's promise and jolly grateful he ought to be. I think the least we can do is to keep our minds clear between Trebell's advantage and the party's.

CANTELUPE. [_From the distant music-stool._] And the party's and the Country's.

BLACKBOROUGH. [_Countering quite deftly._] Cantelupe, either we think it best for the country to have our party in power or we don't.

FARRANT. [_In judicious temper._] Certainly, I don't feel our responsibility towards him is what it was ten minutes ago. The man has other careers besides his political one.

BLACKBOROUGH. [_Ready to praise._] Clever as paint at the Bar--best Company lawyer we've got.

CANTELUPE. It is not what he loses, I think ... but what we lose in losing him.

_He says this so earnestly that_ HORSHAM _pays attention._

HORSHAM. No, my dear Charles, let us be practical. If his position with us is to be made impossible it is better that he shouldn't a.s.sume it.

BLACKBOROUGH. [_Soft and friendly._] How far are you actually pledged to him?

HORSHAM _looks up with the most ingenuous of smiles._

HORSHAM. That's always such a difficult sort of point to determine, isn't it? He thinks he is to join us. But I've not yet been commanded to form a cabinet. If neither you--nor Percival--nor perhaps others will work with him ... what am I to do? [_He appeals to them generally to justify this att.i.tude._]

BLACKBOROUGH. He no longer thinks he's to join us ... it's the question he left us to decide.

_He leaves_ HORSHAM, _whose perplexity is diminis.h.i.+ng._ FARRANT _makes an effort._

FARRANT. But the scandal won't weaken his position with us now. There won't be any scandal ... there won't, Blackborough.

HORSHAM. There may be. Though, I take it we're all guiltless of having mentioned the matter.

BLACKBOROUGH. [_Very detached._] I've only known of it since I came into this house ... but I shall not mention it.

FARRANT. Oh, I'm afraid my wife knows. [_He adds hastily._] My fault ... my fault entirely.

BLACKBOROUGH. I tell you Rumour's electric.

HORSHAM _has turned to_ FARRANT _with a sweet smile and with the air of a man about to be relieved of all responsibility._

HORSHAM. What does she say?

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