WEDGECROFT. I'm not pleased you have to be running a tilt against the party system. [_He becomes a little dubious._] My friend . . it's a nasty windmill. Oh, you've not seen that article in the Nation on Politics and Society . . it's written at Mrs. Farrant and Lady Lurgashall and that set. They hint that the Tories would never have had you if it hadn't been for this bad habit of opposite party men meeting each other. TREBELL. [_Unimpressed._] Excellent habit! What we really want in this country is a coalition of all the shibboleths with the rest of us in opposition . . for five years only. WEDGECROFT. [_Smiling generously._] Well, it's a sensation to see you become arbiter. The Tories are owning they can't do without you. Percival likes you personally . . Townsend don't matter . . Cantelupe you buy with a price, I suppose . . Farrant you can put in your pocket. I tell you I think the man you may run up against is Blackborough. TREBELL. No, all he wants is to be let look big . . and to have an idea given him when he's going to make a speech, which isn't often. WEDGECROFT. Otherwise . . I suppose . . now I may go down to history as having been in your confidence. I'm very glad you've arrived. TREBELL. [_With great seriousness._] I've sharpened myself as a weapon to this purpose. WEDGECROFT. [_Kindly._] And you're sure of yourself, aren't you? TREBELL. [_Turning his wrist._] Try. WEDGECROFT. [_Slipping his doctor's fingers over the pulse._] Seventy, I should say. TREBELL. I promise you it hasn't varied a beat these three big months. WEDGECROFT. Well, I wish it had. Perfect balance is most easily lost. How do you know you've the power of recovery? . . and it's that gets one up in the morning day by day. TREBELL. Is it? My brain works steadily on . . hasn't failed me yet. I keep it well fed. [_He breathes deeply._] But I'm not sure one shouldn't have been away from England for five years instead of five weeks . . to come back to a job like this with a fresh mind. D'you know why really I went back on the Liberals over this question? Not because they wanted the church money for their pensions . . but because all they can see in Disestablishment is destruction. Any fool can destroy! I'm not going to let a power like the Church get loose from the State. A thirteen hundred years' tradition of service . . and all they can think of is to cut it adrift! WEDGECROFT. I think the Church is moribund. TREBELL. Oh, yes, of course you do . . you sentimental agnostic anarchist. Nonsense! The supernatural's a bit blown upon . . till we re-discover what it means. But it's not essential. Nor is the Christian doctrine. Put a Jesuit in a corner and shut the door and he'll own that. No . . the tradition of self-sacrifice and fellowship in service for its own sake . . that's the spirit we've to capture and keep. WEDGECROFT. [_Really struck._] A secular Church!