“It should be greater, because the whole thing is a reserve for a very important campaign. Lord Benthorpe is right. In theory there is nothing needed; in practice, very often the expenses are small. But one must have a perfectly free hand. One must know exactly what one is doing, and one must never be forced to hesitate from lack of funds.” He paused a moment, as though looking about him to find a convenient phrase which would not wound. “A thing like this,” he went on, still firmly, “which is mainly political, may mean less expense than a scheme purely commercial, but it may also mean a sudden and unexpected strain.” Then, as men do who are wiser than their fellows in the matter they discuss, he added an abrupt example: “Do you remember the Thibet irrigation loan?” Lord Benthorpe looked at him and nodded, more from courtesy than from any other motive, for, as a fact, he had never heard of it. “I remember it too,” said Mr Harbury grimly, “and that came of what I call starving.” He looked at them with a steady confidence, knowing his ground thoroughly, and continued: “We are all of us men of substance, and men of affairs, and we can all, if we like, increase the sum.” Here Mr Burden nodded. For the first time in the conversation he clearly understood one whole phrase. Lord Benthorpe was almost agitated. “We could always add,” he said, “if there were any necessity;” and, as he said it, the little nervous trick with his hands began again. Mr Harbury shut his lips very tight. When he opened them it was to say: “You can’t do business that way,” and then he shut them again. Mr Burden thought he would speak, and did so, with a mixture of sense and self-respect: “I shall be happy to abide by any decision that you come to, gentlemen. I was certainly prepared, now or ultimately, for a much larger sum.... But I will, of course, be bound by Lord Benthorpe’s prudence; and by the sense of you all, gentlemen; ... by the sense of you all.” Mr Burden delighted in these phrases; they gave him a solid pleasure; and he went on: “For my part,” ... he was about to tell them that for his part he thought that more was needed, when he suddenly remembered that he was hopelessly out of his depth, and putting on a look of firmness and reflection, he was silent. Lord Benthorpe began: “Still, so far as I can see ...” then he also remembered that he knew nothing at all about such things, and was silent in his turn, still preserving over his projecting teeth that wide, open, permanent and kindly smile, still twisting his refined and lengthy fingers. Mr Harbury had already said: “After all, we shall only be out of our money for a few” ... when Mr Barnett interrupted, with his strong and ponderous voice.