Smiths. Sorry I'm late, but I've been employing my time well. Sowing the seed.
Ste. Been getting at the voters?
(Smithson sits between Alcorn and Stephen.) Smiths. Yes, one or two.
Ste. You've been wasting time. I've collared a man who'll bring in voters by the score.
Alcorn. Who might that be, Mr. Verity?
Ste. Young Montgomery. The parson lad. For all their talk, the Church still has a big hold on the poorer classes. It'll pay to have that boy on our side. He'll talk to them in the Polygon, too. Bamford. Aye. Good man, that, Verity.
Ste. (to Smithson). There's a letter you'd better read.
(Smithson reads it.)
Bamford (sullenly; emerging from a silent sulk). I thought it was houses.
Ste. Well, it isn't. It 'ud take too much capital to cover the Polygon with houses.