CANTELUPE. Horsham forwarded to me your memorandum upon the conditions you
held necessary and I incline to think I may accept them in principle on
behalf of those who honour me with their confidences.
_He fishes some papers from his pocket._ TREBELL _sits squarely at his
table to grapple with the matter._
TREBELL. Horsham told me you did accept them ... it's on that I'm joining.
CANTELUPE. Yes ... in principle.
TREBELL. Well ... we couldn't carry a bill you disapproved of, could we?
CANTELUPE. [_With finesse._] I hope not.
TREBELL. [_A little dangerously._] And I have no intention of being made the
scapegoat of a wrecked Tory compromise with the Nonconformists.
CANTELUPE. [_Calmly ignoring the suggestion._] So far as I am concerned I
meet the Nonconformists on their own ground ... that Religion had better be
free from all compromise with the State.
TREBELL. Quite so ... if you're set free you'll look after yourselves. My
discovery must be what to do with the men who think more of the state than
their Church ... the majority of parsons, don't you think? ... if the
question's really put and they can be made to understand it.
CANTELUPE. [_With sincere disdain._] There are more profitable professions.
TREBELL. And less. Will you allow me that it is statecraft to make a
profession profitable?