First Well-Informed Politician (summing up the situation with confidence). Well, that's how it stands. Drummond Wolff has telegraphed to say that the thing's no go, and that he can't get 'em to sign. So he has put the Convention into his pocket, and is coming home as fast as his legs can carry him.
Second Well-Informed Politician (tentatively). Pardon me, but I don't think it has quite come to that, has it? He was to have left, but the Sultan, you know, asked him to wait for an audience, or something of that sort. I saw something about it just now in the paper.
[Hunts up and down the columns of the "Times" vaguely.
Third Well-Informed Politician. O yes, I know what you mean. Here; it's here. (Produces "Standard.") Ha! this is it. (Reads.) "Sir H. D. Wolff was to have left yesterday, but having asked an audience to take leave, and the Sultan not having named a day for it, his departure has been postponed."
Second Well-Informed Politician. Yes, that's it. (Addressing First Well-Informed Politician with more assurance.) You see there's evidently a chance of further negotiation. I shouldn't be surprised to hear that the thing was settled yet.
First Well-Informed Politician (with warmth). Stuff, Sir—there'll be no settlement—and a precious good job too! Who wants any Convention? Not England. No, we're well out of it, and, what's more, Salisbury knows it.
Third Well-Informed Politician. You quite surprise me. Surely Lord Salisbury had set his heart on the signing of the Convention.
Second Well-Informed Politician. Oh yes, I'm sure of that. Why, I've just been reading it—in the Vienna Correspondence, I think it was. Where was it?
[Again commences a vague hunt up and down the columns of the "Times."
First Well-Informed Politician. Nonsense—I don't care what the "Vienna Correspondence" says. Tells a pack of lies, I'll be bound. I tell you Salisbury's no fool, and he knows when he has got a free hand.