farrant. What perfect nonsense, Cantelupe! I hope you don't mean that.
blackborough. Complication number one, Horsham.
farrant. [Working up his protest.] Why on earth not? You really mustn't drag your personal feelings and prejudices into important matters like this . . matters of state.
cantelupe. I think I have no choice, when Trebell stands convicted of a mortal sin, of which he has not even repented.
trebell. [With bitterest cynicism.] Dictate any form of repentance you like . . my signature is yours.
cantelupe. Is this a matter for intellectual jugglery?
trebell. [His defence failing at last.] I offered to face the scandal from my place in the House. That was mad, wasn't it . .
blackborough—his course mapped out—changes the tone of the discussion.
blackborough. Horsham, I hope Trebell will believe I have no personal feelings in this matter, but we may as well face the fact even now that O'Connell holding his tongue to-morrow won't stop gossip in the House, club gossip, gossip in drawing rooms. What do the Radicals really care so long as a scandal doesn't get into the papers! There's an inner circle with its eye on us.