You are
my friends and this is your advice. We must save the
seat. I'll see Carter. If I can get anything out of him
to make me think he'll go straight on the scheme to save
the Empire"--he smiled faintly--"when it comes to a vote,
I'll withdraw in his favour at the convention. Horace
here will think up something for me--any old lie will
do, I suppose? In any case, of course, I withdraw."
He took his hat, and they all got up, startled a little
at the quick and simple close of the difficult scene they
had anticipated. Horace Williams offered his hand.
"Shake, Lorne," he said, and the other two, coming nearer.
followed his example.
"Why, yes," said Lorne.
He left them with a brief excuse, and they stood together
in a moment's silence, three practical politicians who
had delivered themselves from a dangerous network involving
higher things.
"Dash these heart-to-heart talks," said Bingham irritably,
"it's the only thing to do, but why the devil didn't he
want something out of it? I had that Registrarship in my
inside pocket."
"If anybody likes to kick me round the room," remarked
Horace Williams with depression, "I have no very strong
objection."
"And now," Mr Farquharson said with a sigh, "we understand
it's got to be Carter. I suppose I'm too old a man to do
jockey for a three-year-old, but I own I've enjoyed the
ride.
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