Blackborough. He's your man, Horsham. That's one difficulty settled.
Horsham's thoughts are evidently beyond Blackborough, beyond the absent Percival even.
Horsham. Oh ... any of us could carry that sort of a bill.
Cantelupe has heard this last passage with nothing less than horror and pale anger, which he contains no longer.
Cantelupe. I won't have this. I won't have this opportunity frittered away for party purposes.
Blackborough. [Expostulating reasonably.] My dear Cantelupe ... you'll get whatever you think it right for the Church to have. You carry a solid thirty eight votes with you.
Horsham's smooth voice intervenes. He speaks with finesse.
Horsham. Percival, as an old campaigner, expresses himself very roughly. The point is, that we are after all only the trustees of the party. If we know that a certain step will decimate it ... clearly we have no right to take the step.
Cantelupe. [Glowing to white heat.] Is this a time to count the consequences to ourselves?
Horsham. [Unkindly.] By your action this evening, Charles, you evidently think not. [He salves the wound.] No matter, I agree with you ... the bill should be a comprehensive one, whoever brings it in.