Speaking for
myself----
CHAMBERLAIN. If you had not thought it possible--should you have come?
DIST. V. I cannot conceive how that would have made any difference.
CHAMBERLAIN. Still, if you had not thought it possible, you would hardly
have asked the question.
DIST. V. Well, now I have asked it. Speech is an overrated means of
communication--especially between friends; but it has to serve sometimes.
And you, at least, Chamberlain, have never used it as--Talleyrand, was it
not?--recommended that it should be used--for concealment.
CHAMBERLAIN. So you think that--in words at any rate--I've been honest?
DIST. V. I should say pre-eminently.
CHAMBERLAIN. And--loyal?
DIST. V. I have never had differences--political divergences--with any man
more loyal than you, Chamberlain.
CHAMBERLAIN. Thank you. I value that--from you. So the question's
answered. On my side there is no cloud, as you tell me I have nothing with
which to reproach myself.
DIST. V. Thank you for the reassurance. In that case the heavens are
clear.
CHAMBERLAIN. I hope they are properly grateful. Such a testimonial--from
two men looking in opposite directions--is an embracing one.
DIST. V. Opposite? Oh, I had hoped--though we may not see eye to eye in
everything--that still, in the main, we were in general agreement.
CHAMBERLAIN. Possibly. I daresay "a half-sheet of note-paper" might still
cover our "general agreement," so long as we only talked about it.
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