VOYSEY'S _invaluable assistance in this transaction which first bound the two together in great friendship. Since that time Mr. Booth has been bent on nothing but enjoying himself. He has even remained a bachelor with that object. Money has given him all he wants, therefore he loves and reverences money; while his imagination may be estimated by the fact that he has now reached the age of sixty-five, still possessing more of it than he knows what to do with. At the head of the table, meditatively cracking walnuts, sits_ MR. VOYSEY. _He has his back there to the conservatory door--you know it is the conservatory door because there is a curtain to pull over it, and because half of it is frosted glass with a purple key pattern round the edge. On_ MR. VOYSEY'S _left is_ DENIS TREGONING, _a nice enough young man. And at the other end of the table sits_ EDWARD, _not smoking, not talking, hardly listening, very depressed. Behind him is the ordinary door of the room, which leads out into the dismal draughty hall. The Major's voice is like the sound of a cannon through the tobacco smoke._ MAJOR BOOTH VOYSEY. Of course I'm hot and strong for conscription . . MR. GEORGE BOOTH. My dear boy, the country'd never stand it. No Englishman-- MAJOR BOOTH VOYSEY. [_dropping the phrase heavily upon the poor old gentleman._] I beg your pardon. If we . . the Army . . say to the country . . Upon our honour conscription is necessary for your safety . . what answer has the country? What? [_he pauses defiantly._] There you are . . none! TREGONING. Booth will imagine because one doesn't argue that one has nothing to say. You ask the country. MAJOR BOOTH VOYSEY. Perhaps I will. Perhaps I'll chuck the Service and go into the House. [_then falling into the sing song of a favourite phrase._] I'm not a conceited man . . but I believe that if I speak out upon a subject I understand and only upon that subject the House will listen . . and if others followed my example we should be a far more business-like and go-ahead community. _He pauses for breath and_ MR. BOOTH _seizes the opportunity_. MR. GEORGE BOOTH. If you think the gentlemen of England will allow themselves to be herded with a lot of low fellers and made to carry guns--! MAJOR BOOTH VOYSEY. [_obliterating him once more._] Just one moment. Have you thought of the physical improvement which conscription would bring about in the manhood of the country? What England wants is Chest! [_he generously inflates his own._] Chest and Discipline. I don't care how it's obtained. Why, we suffer from a lack of it in our homes-- MR. VOYSEY. [_with the crack of a nut._] Your godson talks a deal, don't he? You know, when Booth gets into a club, he gets on the committee . . gets on any committee to enquire into anything . . and then goes on at 'em just like this. Don't you, Booth? BOOTH _knuckles under easily enough to his father's sarcasm_. MAJOR BOOTH VOYSEY. Well, sir, people tell me I'm a useful man on committees.