Lady Corinthia.  Am I to understand that General Mitchener is a democrat and a suffraget?

Mitchener.  Yes:  you have converted me—­you and Mrs. Banger.

Lady Corinthia.  Farewell, creature. (Balsquith enters hurriedly.) Mr. Balsquith:  I am going to wait on General Sandstone.  He at least is an officer and a gentleman. (She sails out.)

Balsquith.  Mitchener:  the game is up.

Mitchener.  What do you mean?

Balsquith.  The strain is too much for the Cabinet.  The old Liberal and Unionist Free Traders declare that if they are defeated on their resolution to invite tenders from private contractors for carrying on the Army and Navy, they will go solid for votes for women as the only means of restoring the liberties of the country which we have destroyed by compulsory military service.

Mitchener.  Infernal impudence?

Balsquith.  The Labor party is taking the same line.  They say the men got the Factory Acts by hiding behind the women’s petticoats, and that they will get votes for the army in the same way.

Mitchener.  Balsquith:  we must not yield to clamor.  I have just told this lady that I am at last convinced—­

Balsquith (joyfully).  That the suffragets must be supported.

Mitchener.  No:  that the anti-suffragets must be put down at all hazards.

Balsquith.  Same thing.

Mitchener.  No.  For you now tell me that the Labor Party demands votes for women.  That makes it impossible to give them, because it would be yielding to clamor.  The one condition on which we can consent to grant anything in this country is that nobody shall presume to want it.

Balsquith (earnestly).  Mitchener:  its no use.  You cant have the conveniences of Democracy without its occasional inconveniences.

Mitchener.  What are its conveniences, I should like to know?

Balsquith.  When you tell people that they are the real rulers and they can do what they like, nine times out of ten, they say, “All right, tell us what to do.”  But it happens sometimes that they get an idea of their own; and then of course youre landed.

Mitchener.  Sh—­

Balsquith (desperately shouting him down).  No:  its no use telling me to shoot them down:  Im not going to do it.  After all, I dont suppose votes for women will make much difference.  It hasnt in the other countries in which it has been tried.

Mitchener.  I never supposed it would make much difference.  What I cant stand is giving in to that Pankhurst lot.  Hang it all, Balsquith, it seems only yesterday that we put them in quod for a month.  I said at the time that it ought to have been ten years.  If my advice had been taken this wouldnt have happened.  Its a consolation to me that events are proving how thoroughly right I was.