horsham. Well . . he didn't?
farrant. I'm trying to be accurate! [Obviously their nerves are now on edge.] He said we should find him tough to assimilate—as he warned you.
horsham with knit brows, loses himself in thought again. blackborough quietly turns his attention to farrant.
blackborough. Farrant, you don't seriously think that . . outside his undoubted capabilities . . Trebell is an acquisition to the party?
farrant. [Unwillingly.] Perhaps not. But if you're going to chuck a man . . don't chuck him when he's down.
blackborough. He's no longer down. We've got him O'Connell's promise and jolly grateful he ought to be. I think the least we can do is to keep our minds clear between Trebell's advantage and the party's.
cantelupe. [From the distant music-stool.] And the party's and the Country's.
blackborough. [Countering quite deftly.] Cantelupe, either we think it best for the country to have our party in power or we don't.
farrant. [In judicious temper.] Certainly, I don't feel our responsibility towards him is what it was ten minutes ago. The man has other careers besides his political one.