Sir Henry
Percival is ill. Do sit down.
O'CONNELL _takes the nearest chair and gradually the others settle
themselves_; FARRANT _seeking an obscure corner. But there follows an
uncomfortable silence, which_ O'CONNELL _at last breaks._
O'CONNELL. You have sent for me, Lord Horsham?
HORSHAM. I hope that by my message I conveyed no impression of sending for
you.
O'CONNELL. I am always in some doubt as to by what person or persons in or
out of power this country is governed. But from all I hear you are at the
present moment approximately entitled to send for me.
_The level music of his Irish tongue seems to give finer edge to his
sarcasm._
HORSHAM. Well, Mr. O'Connell ... you know our request before we make it.
O'CONNELL. Yes, I understand that if the fact of Mr. Trebell's adultery with
my wife were made as public as its consequences to her must be to-morrow,
public opinion would make it difficult for you to include him in your
cabinet.
HORSHAM. Therefore we ask you ... though we have no right to ask you ... to
consider the particular circumstances and forget the man in the statesman,
Mr. O'Connell.
O'CONNELL. My wife is dead. What have I to do at all with Mr. Trebell as a
man? As a statesman I am in any case uninterested in him.
_Upon this throwing of cold water_, EDMUNDS _returns to mention even
more discreetly.
Pages:
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95