human
You'll forgive my waiting, sir, he begged.
gpt
Your servant told me that you were dining out and would be home before seven o'clock to change.
human
Quite right, Spencer, Tallente replied.
gpt
Glad to see you. Whisky and soda or cocktail?
human
Get right into the middle of it, please,
gpt
To begin with, then, can you break your engagement and come and dine with the Chief?
human
Out of the question, even if it were a royal command, was the firm reply.
gpt
My engagement is unbreakable.
human
The Chief will be sorry, Williams said.
gpt
So am I. Will you go round to Downing Street and see him afterwards?
human
I could, Tallente admitted,
gpt
I know all about that, Williams assented,
human
He took particularly good care that I should know that.
gpt
Well, there you are, Williams went on.
human
The Chief's fed up. I can talk to you here freely because I'm not an official person. Can you discuss terms at all for a rapprochement?
gpt
Out of the question!
human
You mean that you are too much committed to Dartrey and the Democrats?
gpt
Tallente objected.
human
Their principles are in the main my principles. They stand for the cause I have championed all my life. Our alliance is a natural, almost an automatic one.
gpt
It's all very well, sir, Williams argued,
human
That is where the Democrats come in, Tallente pointed out.
gpt
They have none of the narrower outlook of the Labour Party as you understand it--of any of the late factions of the Labour Party, perhaps I should say. The Democrats possess an international outlook. When they legislate, every class will receive its proper consideration. No class will be privileged. A man will be ranked according to his production.
human
Sounds a little Utopian, sir, he ventured.
gpt
What about Miller?
human
Well, what about him?
gpt
Are you going to serve with him?
human
Really, Tallente protested,
gpt
It's a matter that you'll have to face sometime or other, the young man asserted.
human
I happen to know that Dartrey is committed to Miller.
gpt
I don't see how you can happen to know anything of the sort, Tallente declared, a little bluntly.
human
In any case, Spencer, my political association or nonassociation with Miller is entirely my own affair, and you can hook it. Remember me to all your people, and give my love to Muriel.
gpt
Nothing doing, eh?
human
You have perception,
gpt
The Chief was afraid you might be a little difficult about an interview. Those pressmen are an infernal nuisance, anyway. What about sneaking into Downing Street at about midnight, in a cloak and slouch hat, eh?
human
Too much of the cinema about you, young fellow, Tallente scoffed.
gpt
Run along now. I have to dress.
human
There was just one thing more I was asked to mention, sir, he said.
gpt
I will be quite frank if I may. My instructions were not to allude to it if your attitude were in the least conciliatory.
human
Go on,
gpt
There has been a rumour going about that some years ago--while the war was on, in fact--you wrote a very wonderful attack upon the trades unions. This attack was so bitter in tone, so damning in some of its facts, and, in short, such a wonderful production, that at the last moment the late Prime Minister used his influence with you to suspend its publication. It was held over, and in the meantime the attitude of the trades unions towards certain phases of the war was modified, and the collapse of Germany followed soon afterwards. Consequently, that article was never published.
human
You are exceedingly well informed, Tallente admitted.
gpt
Pray proceed.
human
There is in existence, the young man continued,
gpt
Is this a matter of blackmail?
human
I am speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, sir. He desired me to inform you that the signed copy of that article has been offered to him within the last few days.
gpt
The manuscript to which you refer, he said at last,
human
Perhaps you would like to explain those conditions to Mr. Horlock,
gpt
I shall not seek out your Chief, he said,
human
My Chief will resent your using such a word, sir,
gpt
Your Chief could have avoided it by a judicious use of the waste-paper basket and an exercise of the gift of silence.