.. takes the linch-pin out of one's brain,
doesn't it?
HORSHAM. Trebell, we've been doing our best to get you out of this mess.
Your remarks to O'Connell weren't of any assistance, and....
CANTELUPE _stands up, so momentously that_ HORSHAM'S _gentle flow of speech
dries up._
CANTELUPE. Perhaps I had better say at once that, whatever hushing up you
may succeed in, it will be impossible for me to sit in a cabinet with Mr.
Trebell.
_It takes even_ FARRANT _a good half minute to recover his power of
speech on this new issue._
FARRANT. What perfect nonsense, Cantelupe! I hope you don't mean that.
BLACKBOROUGH. Complication number one, Horsham.
FARRANT. [_Working up his protest._] Why on earth not? You really mustn't
drag your personal feelings and prejudices into important matters like this
... matters of state.
CANTELUPE. I think I have no choice, when Trebell stands convicted of a
mortal sin, of which he has not even repented.
TREBELL. [_With bitterest cynicism._] Dictate any form of repentance you
like ... my signature is yours.
CANTELUPE. Is this a matter for intellectual jugglery?
TREBELL. [_His defence failing at last._] I offered to face the scandal from
my place in the House. That was mad, wasn't it....
BLACKBOROUGH--_his course mapped out--changes the tone of the
discussion._
BLACKBOROUGH. Horsham, I hope Trebell will believe I have no personal
feelings in this matter, but we may as well face the fact even now that
O'Connell holding his tongue to-morrow won't stop gossip in the House, club
gossip, gossip in drawing rooms.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106