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
      glasses.

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 God. [He turns enthusiastically to TREBELL who stands rigid.] My dear fellow ...  I hope you know how glad I am.

CANTELUPE.  I am very glad.

BLACKBOROUGH.  Of course we’re all very glad indeed, Trebell ... very glad we persuaded him.

FARRANT.  That’s dead and buried now, isn’t it?

      TREBELL moves away from them all and leaves them wondering.  When he
      turns round his face is as hard as ever; his voice, if possible,
      harder.

TREBELL.  But, Horsham, returning to the more important question ... you’ve taken trouble, and O’Connell’s to perjure himself for nothing if you still can’t get me into your child’s puzzle ... to make the pretty picture that a Cabinet should be.

      HORSHAM looks at BLACKBOROUGH and scents danger.

HORSHAM.  We shall all be glad, I am sure, to postpone any further discussion....

TREBELL.  I shall not.

BLACKBOROUGH. [Encouragingly.] Quite so, Trebell.  We’re on the subject, and it won’t discount our pleasure that you’re out of this mess, to continue it.  This habit of putting off the hour of disagreement is ... well, Horsham, it’s contrary to my business instincts.

TREBELL.  If one time’s as good as another for you ... this moment is better than most for me.

HORSHAM. [A little irritated at the wantonness of this dispute.] There is nothing before us on which we are capable of coming to any decision ... in a technical sense.

BLACKBOROUGH.  That’s a quibble. [Poor HORSHAM gasps.] I’m not going to pretend either now or in a month’s time that I think Trebell anything but a most dangerous acquisition to the party.  I pay you a compliment in that, Trebell.  Now, Horsham proposes that we should go to the country when Disestablishment’s through.