CHAPTER II 

HESTER THINKS IT "A GREAT PITY" 

"You will understand," Mannering said, as the brougham drove off, "that you and I are speaking together merely as friends. I have nothing official to say to you. It would be presumption on my part to assume that the time is ripe for anything definite while you are still at the head of an unbeaten Government. But one learns to read the signs of the times. I think that you and I both know that you cannot last the session." 

"It is a positive luxury at times," Redford answered, "to be able to indulge in absolute candour. We cannot last the session. You pulled us through our last tight corner, but we shall part, I suppose, on the New Tenement Bill, and then we shall come a cropper." 

Mannering nodded. 

"The Opposition," he said, "are not strong enough to form a Government alone. And I do not think that a one-man Cabinet would be popular. It has been suggested to me that at no time in political history have the conditions been more favourable for a really strong coalition Government, containing men of moderate views on both sides. I am anxious to know whether you would be willing to join such a combination." 

"Under whom?" Lord Redford asked. 

"Under myself," Mannering answered, gravely. "Don't think me over-presumptuous. The matter has been very carefully thought out. You could not serve under Rushleigh, nor could he serve under you. But you could both be invaluable members of a Cabinet of which I was the nominal head. I do not wish to entrap you into consent, however, without your fully understanding this: a modified, and to a certain extent an experimental, scheme of tariff reform would be part of our programme." 
Were the two men having a conversation on the record?
What was the name of the man who started the discussion?
Who was the man responding to him?
Was the second man a noble?
Did he believe his party would endure the term?
Where did he believe his party and the other man's, would differ?
Was he grateful for the chance to be honest?
Did the first man say it was time for certain action?
Did he thing the opposing party was strong?
What did he suggest wouldn't be popular?
What did he believe circumstances favored?
With what kind of membership?
Was he relaxed?
What did he want to know?
Who did he suggest would lead it?
Was the plan hastily decided?
Who did he suggest Redford would be unable to work for?
Did he believe the reverse was true as well?
How did he characterize the value of their service to him?
What vehicle left as the conversation began?
No.
I have nothing official to say to you
Mannering
Mannering 
Redford
Redford 
Yes.
Lord Redford
No.
 We cannot last the session. 
on the New Tenement Bill
 on the New Tenement Bill
Yes.
"It is a positive luxury at times," Redford answered, "to be able to indulge in absolute candour
No.
 It would be presumption on my part to assume that the time is ripe for anything definite
No.
are not strong 
a one-man Cabinet
a one-man Cabinet
a really strong coalition Government
a really strong coalition Government
men of moderate views
men of moderate views
No.
 I am anxious
whether Redford would be willing to join such a combination
whether you would be willing to join such a combination
Himself.
"Under myself,"
No.
very carefully thought out
Rushleigh
Rushleigh
Yes.
nor could he serve under you
invaluable
invaluable
the brougham
 the brougham