The Forsyte Saga Volume 2(143)
He sat down, after speaking for thirteen minutes. Off his chest! An honourable Member rose.
‘I must congratulate the Member for mid-Bucks on what, despite its acquaintanceship with the clouds, and its Lewis Carrolian appeal for less bread, more taxes, we must all admit to be a lively and well-delivered first effort. The Member for Tyne and Tees, earlier in the Debate, made an allusion to the Party to which I have the honour to belong, which – er –’
‘Exactly!’ thought Michael, and after waiting for the next speech, which contained no allusion whatever to his own, he left the House.
Chapter Two
RESULTS
HE walked home, lighter in head and heart. That was the trouble – a light weight! No serious attention would be paid to him. He recollected the maiden speech of the Member of Corn-market. At least he had stopped, today, as soon as the House began to fidget. He felt hot, and hungry. Opera-singers grew fat through their voices, Members of Parliament thin. He would have a bath.
He was half clothed again when Fleur came in.
‘You did splendidly, Michael. That beast!’
‘Which?’
‘His name’s MacGown.’
‘Sir Alexander MacGown? What about him?’
‘You’ll see tomorrow. He insinuated that you were interested in the sale of the Foggart book, as one of its publishers.’
‘That’s rather the limit.’
‘And all the rest of his speech was a cut-up; horrid tone about the whole thing. Do you know him?’
‘MacGown? No. He’s Member for some Scottish borough.’
‘Well, he’s an enemy. Blythe is awfully pleased with you, and wild about MacGown; and so is Bart. I’ve never seen him so angry. You’ll have to write to The Times and explain that you’ve had no interest in Danby & Winter’s since before you were elected. Bart and your mother are coming to dinner. Did you know she was with me?’
‘Mother? She abhors politics.’
‘All she said was: “I wish dear Michael would brush his hair back before speaking. I like to see his forehead.” And when MacGown sat down, she said: “My dear, the back of that man’s head is perfectly straight. D’you think he’s a Prussian? And he’s got thick lobes to his ears. I shouldn’t like to be married to him!” She had her opera-glasses.’
Sir Lawrence and Lady Mont were already in the ‘parlour’ when they went down, standing opposite each other like two storks, if not precisely on one leg, still very distinguished. Pushing Michael’s hair up, Lady Mont pecked his forehead, and her dove-like eyes gazed at the top of his head from under their arched brows. She was altogether a little Norman in her curves; she even arched her words. She was considered ‘a dear; but not too frightfully all there’.
‘How did you manage to stick it, Mother?’
‘My dear boy, I was thrilled; except for that person in jute. I thought the shape of his head insufferable. Where did you get all that knowledge? It was so sensible.’
Michael grinned. ‘How did it strike you, sir?’
Sir Lawrence grimaced.
‘You played the enfant terrible, my dear. Half the party won’t like it because they’ve never thought of it; and the other half won’t like it because they have.’
‘What! Foggartists at heart?’
‘Of course; but in Office. You mustn’t support your real convictions in Office – it’s not done.’
‘This nice room,’ murmured Lady Mont. ‘When I was last here it was Chinese. And where’s the monkey?’
‘In Michael’s study, Mother. We got tired of him. Would you like to see Kit before dinner?’
Left alone, Michael and his father stared at the same object, a Louis Quinze snuff-box picked up by Soames.
‘Would you take any notice of MacGown’s insinuation, Dad?’
‘Is that his name – the hairy haberdasher! I should.’
‘How?’
‘Give him the lie.’
‘In private, in the Press, or in the House?’
‘All three. In private I should merely call him a liar. In the Press you should use the words: “Reckless disregard for truth.” And in Parliament – that you regret he “should have been so misinformed.” To complete the crescendo you might add that men’s noses have been pulled for less.’
‘But you don’t suppose,’ said Michael, ‘that people would believe a thing like that?’
‘They will believe anything, my dear, that suggests corruption in public life. It’s one of the strongest traits in human nature. Anxiety about the integrity of public men would be admirable, if it wasn’t so usually felt by those who have so little integrity themselves that they can’t give others credit for it.’ Sir Lawrence grimaced, thinking of the P.P.R.S. ‘And talking of that – why wasn’t Old Forsyte in the House today?’