"It cannot often be the case that a minister should ask the son of his keenest political opponent to render him such a service. But, however, we will put that aside."
"Not quite, sir."
"For the present we will put that on one side. Not looking at the party which you may be called upon to support, having for the moment no regard to this or that line in politics, there is no opening to the real duties of parliamentary life which I would sooner see accorded to you than this."
"But if I were to break down?" Talking to his father he could not quite venture to ask what might happen if he were to "come a cropper."
"None but the brave deserve the fair," said the Duke slapping his hands upon the table. "Why, if we fail, 'We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we'll not fail.' What high point would ever be reached if caution such as that were allowed to prevail? What young men have done before cannot you do? I have no doubt of your capacity. None."
"Haven't you, sir?" said Silverbridge, considerably gratified,—and also surprised.
"None in the least. But, perhaps, some of your diligence."
"I could learn it by heart, sir,—if you mean that."
"But I don't mean that; or rather I mean much more than that. You have first to realise in your mind the thing to be said, and then the words in which you should say it, before you come to learning by heart."
"Some of them I suppose would tell me what to say."