Horsham. No, my dear Charles, let us be practical. If his position with us is to be made impossible it is better that he shouldn't assume it.
Blackborough. [Soft and friendly.] How far are you actually pledged to him?
Horsham looks up with the most ingenuous of smiles.
Horsham. That's always such a difficult sort of point to determine, isn't it? He thinks he is to join us. But I've not yet been commanded to form a cabinet. If neither you—nor Percival—nor perhaps others will work with him ... what am I to do? [He appeals to them generally to justify this attitude.]
Blackborough. He no longer thinks he's to join us ... it's the question he left us to decide.
He leaves Horsham, whose perplexity is diminishing. Farrant makes an effort.
Farrant. But the scandal won't weaken his position with us now. There won't be any scandal ... there won't, Blackborough.
Horsham. There may be. Though, I take it we're all guiltless of having mentioned the matter.
Blackborough. [Very detached.] I've only known of it since I came into this house ... but I shall not mention it.
Farrant. Oh, I'm afraid my wife knows. [He adds hastily.] My fault ... my fault entirely.