“Our work won’t lack in importance.”
“Then you’ve accepted his offer?,” I asked. “You’re giving up the House?”
“I’m committed in principle,” he answered. “Yes, I shan’t stand again: this coupon business leaves no scope for the independent member. Why the prime minister wants an election at all, when his position is impregnable . . .”
“He wants to keep it impregnable,” I said. “Well, you’re going in with Raymond to succeed where Deryk Lancing and his father and every millionaire in history has so far failed? It’s easier to make money honestly than to spend it wisely, you’ll find. How much is there?”
“About twelve hundred thousand a year.”
“You can do a lot of harm with that,” I said. “How will you spend it?”
“For the first year or two it’s ear-marked for universities and hospitals.”
“And after that?”
“We might make the war worth while,” he laughed. “But you must help. The trouble with England at present is that we’ve so little sense of responsibility. Isn’t it about time we educated people up to a civic conscience? In the war, I admit . . .”
“You found a hundred men who would die for their country to one who would live for it.”