MRS. FARRANT. [Judicially.] I think that was precipitate.

WALTER KENT. [Giving them LORD CHARLES’S oratory.] Gentlemen, in these latter days of Radical opportunism!—­You know, I was there ... sitting next to an old gentleman who shouted “Jesuit.”

FRANCES TREBELL.  But supposing Mallaby and the Nonconformists hadn’t been able to force the Liberals’ hand?

MRS. FARRANT. [Speaking as of inferior beings.] Why, they were glad of any cry going to the Country!

FRANCES TREBELL. [As she considers this.] Yes ... and Lord Charles would still have had as good a chance of forcing Lord Horsham’s.  It has been clever tactics.

LUCY DAVENPORT. [Who has been listening, sharp-eyed.] Contrariwise, he wouldn’t have liked a Radical Bill though, would he?

WALTER KENT. [With aplomb.] He knew he was safe from that.  The government must have dissolved before Christmas anyway ... and the swing of the pendulum’s a sure thing.

MRS. FARRANT. [With her smile.] It’s never a sure thing.

WALTER KENT.  Oh, Mrs. Farrant, look how unpopular the Liberals are.

FRANCES TREBELL.  What made them bring in Resolutions?

WALTER KENT. [Overflowing with knowledge of the subject.] I was told Mallaby insisted on their showing they meant business.  I thought he was being too clever ... and it turns out he was.  Tommy Luxmore told me there was a fearful row in the Cabinet about it.  But on their last legs, you know, it didn’t seem to matter, I suppose.  Even then, if Prothero had mustered up an ounce of tact ...  I believe they could have pulled them through....

FRANCES TREBELL.  Not the Spoliation one.

WALTER KENT.  Well, Mr. Trebell dished that!

FRANCES TREBELL.  Henry says his speech didn’t turn a vote.

MRS. FARRANT. [With charming irony.] How disinterested of him!

WALTER KENT. [Enthusiastic.] That speech did if ever a speech did.

FRANCES TREBELL.  Is there any record of a speech that ever did?  He just carried his own little following with him.

MRS. FARRANT.  But the crux of the whole matter is and has always been ... what’s to be done with the Church’s money.

LUCY DAVENPORT. [Visualising sovereigns.] A hundred millions or so ... think of it!

FRANCES TREBELL.  There has been from the start a good deal of anti-Nonconformist feeling against applying the money to secular uses.

MRS. FARRANT. [Deprecating false modesty, on anyone’s behalf.] Oh, of course the speech turned votes ... twenty of them at least.

LUCY DAVENPORT. [Determined on information.] Then I was told Lord Horsham had tried to come to an understanding himself with the Nonconformists about Disestablishment—­oh—­a long time ago ... over the Education Bill.

FRANCES TREBELL.  Is that true, Julia?