“Say rather, impure and artful!” said Kenneth Murless.
General Bellasis laughed, and waved his cigar at the interruption.
His point was that the time had come when Labour had given them the chance for a straight fight. They had challenged “Us.”
“Meaning the Government?” asked Alban.
“Meaning the Decent Crowd,” said the General. “Anybody with a stake in the country, including the unfortunate Middle Classes. All of us. Well, we accept the challenge. We’re ready to knock hell out of them.”
Lord Ottery expressed his view. He did not believe in arranging a clash. He always avoided clashes, if possible. The history of England, he thought, was in the main the successful avoidance of the real issues. That was our genius.
“I agree,” said Bellasis, in a tone which showed clearly his disagreement. “But this clash has got to come. It’s inevitable. We must get the working classes back to their kennels. Back to cheap labour. Back to discipline. Otherwise we’re done.”
“What’s your plan?” asked Alban.
“Yes, that’s the point,” said Ottery. “Has the Government thought out a plan? I doubt it. They never think out any plan.”
“This is all taped out,” said General Bellasis. “The War Office has been working it out.”