TREBELL. Then I should say it would be almost a relief to you if O'Connell tells on me to-morrow. FARRANT. We seem to have got off that subject altogether. [_There comes a portentous tap at the door._] Good Lord! . . I'm getting jumpy. HORSHAM. Excuse me. _A note is handed to him through the half opened door; and obviously it is at_ EDMUNDS _whom he frowns. Then he returns fidgetting for his glasses_. Oh, it turns out . . I'm so sorry you were blundered in here, Trebell . . this man . . what's his name . . Edwards . . had been reading the papers and thought it was a cabinet council . . seemed proud of himself. This is from Wedgecroft . . scribbled in a messenger office. I never can read his writing . . it's like prescriptions. Can you? _It has gradually dawned on the three men and then on_ TREBELL _what this note may have in it_. FARRANT'S _hand even trembles a little as he takes it. He gathers the meaning himself and looks at the others with a smile before he reads the few words aloud._ FARRANT. "All right. He has promised." BLACKBOROUGH. O'Connell? FARRANT. Thank God. [_He turns enthusiastically to_ TREBELL _who stands rigid_.] My dear fellow . . I hope you know how glad I am. CANTELUPE. I am very glad. BLACKBOROUGH. Of course we're all very glad indeed, Trebell . . very glad we persuaded him. FARRANT. That's dead and buried now, isn't it? TREBELL _moves away from them all and leaves them wondering. When he turns round his face is as hard as ever; his voice, if possible, harder._ TREBELL. But, Horsham, returning to the more important question . . you've taken trouble, and O'Connell's to perjure himself for nothing if you still can't get me into your child's puzzle . . to make the pretty picture that a Cabinet should be. HORSHAM _looks at_ BLACKBOROUGH _and scents danger_. HORSHAM. We shall all be glad, I am sure, to postpone any further discussion. . . TREBELL. I shall not. BLACKBOROUGH. [_Encouragingly._] Quite so, Trebell. We're on the subject, and it won't discount our pleasure that you're out of this mess, to continue it. This habit of putting off the hour of disagreement is . . well, Horsham, it's contrary to my business instincts. TREBELL. If one time's as good as another for you . . this moment is better than most for me. HORSHAM. [_A little irritated at the wantonness of this dispute._] There is nothing before us on which we are capable of coming to any decision . . in a technical sense. BLACKBOROUGH. That's a quibble. [_Poor_ HORSHAM _gasps_.] I'm not going to pretend either now or in a month's time that I think Trebell anything but a most dangerous acquisition to the party. I pay you a compliment in that, Trebell. Now, Horsham proposes that we should go to the country when Disestablishment's through. HORSHAM. It's the condition of Nonconformist support. BLACKBOROUGH. One condition. Then you'd leave us, Trebell? HORSHAM. I hope not.