“I hate aristocracy. For you it means doing what you like. While you are energetic you will kick about and then you will come back to this.”
“That's one's own look-out,” said Benham, after reflection.
“No, it's bound to happen.”
Benham retreated a little from the immediate question.
“Well, we can't suddenly at a blow change the world. If it isn't to be plutocracy to-day it has to be aristocracy.”
Prothero frowned over this, and then he made a sweeping proposition.
“YOU CANNOT HAVE ARISTOCRACY,” he said, “BECAUSE, YOU SEE—ALL MEN ARE RIDICULOUS. Democracy has to fight its way out from under plutocracy. There is nothing else to be done.”
“But a man in my position—?”
“It's a ridiculous position. You may try to escape being ridiculous. You won't succeed.”
It seemed to Benham for a moment as though Prothero had got to the bottom of the question, and then he perceived that he had only got to the bottom of himself. Benham was pacing the floor.