WEDGECROFT. You can't carry any bill to be a credit to you with the coming Tory cabinet on your back. You know the Government is cursing you with its dying breath. TREBELL. [_Rubbing his hands._] Of course. They've been beaten out of the House and in now. I suppose they will meet Parliament. WEDGECROFT. They must, I think. It's over a month since-- TREBELL. [_His thoughts running quickly._] There'll only be a nominal majority of sixteen against them. The Labour lot are committed on their side . . and now that the Irish have gone-- WEDGECROFT. But they'll be beaten on the Address first go. TREBELL. Yes . . Horsham hasn't any doubt of it. WEDGECROFT. He'll be in office within a week of the King's speech. TREBELL. [_With another access of energy._] I'll pull the bill that's in my head through a Horsham cabinet and the House. Then I'll leave them . . they'll go to the country-- WEDGECROFT. You know Percival's pledge about that at Bristol wasn't very definite. TREBELL. Horsham means to. WEDGECROFT. [_With friendly contempt._] Oh, Horsham! TREBELL. Anyway, it's about Percival I want you. How ill is he? WEDGECROFT. Not very. TREBELL. Is he going to die? WEDGECROFT. Well, I'm attending him. TREBELL. [_Pinked._] Yes . . that's a good answer. How does he stomach me in prospect as a colleague, so far? WEDGECROFT. Sir, professional etiquette forbids me to disclose what a patient may confess in the sweat of his agony. TREBELL. He'll be Chancellor again and lead the House. WEDGECROFT. Why not? He only grumbles that he's getting old. TREBELL. [_Thinking busily again._] The difficulty is I shall have to stay through one budget with them. He'll have a surplus . . well, it looks like it . . and my only way of agreeing with him will be to collar it. WEDGECROFT. But . . good heavens! . . you'll have a hundred million or so to give away when you've disendowed. TREBELL. Not to give away. I'll sell every penny. WEDGECROFT. [_With an incredulous grin._] You're not going back to extending old-age pensions after turning the unfortunate Liberals out on it, are you? TREBELL. No, no . . none of your half crown measures. They can wait to round off their solution of that till they've the courage to make one big bite of it. WEDGECROFT. We shan't see the day. TREBELL. [_Lifting the subject off its feet._] Not if I come out of the cabinet and preach revolution? WEDGECROFT. Or will they make a Tory of you? TREBELL. [_Acknowledging that stroke with a return grin._] It'll be said they have when the bill is out. WEDGECROFT. It's said so already. TREBELL. Who knows a radical bill when he sees it!