The Cabinet Minister Part 23

EGIDIA.

He is with Angele in the next room.

DOWAGER.

[Calling at the door.] Angele! Angele!

ANGeLE.

[Outside.] Miladi?

DOWAGER.

Bring Lord Aberbrothock here.

[ANGeLE a French nurse, characteristically attired, enters, carrying a richly-dressed infant. DRUMDURRIS and EGIDIA look into its face together.]

ANGeLE.

Figurez-vous, milord, qu'il a dormi pendant tout le trajet! et puis quand je suis descendue de voiture, il s'est reveille en pleurant ... ah mais, en pleurant!

DOWAGER.

Give me Lord Aberbrothock. [She takes the child from Angele.] Wait in the next room, Angele.

ANGeLE.

Yes, miladi. J'espere bien que Monsieur le Vicomte ne va plus crier, car ca pourrait faire de la peine a sa grand'maman. [ANGeLE goes out.]

DOWAGER.

Now, Julian, this is the point. You see Fergus. Politics or the Army?

EGIDIA.

Politics.

EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.

The Army.

DOWAGER.

Pray speak, Julian.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Er--um--perhaps it would be rather precipitate----

EGIDIA.

I differ entirely. The child's intelligence must be directed into a particular channel from the beginning.

EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.

In that I heartily concur. For instance, the question of toys is already most urgent.

EGIDIA.

He is without playthings at present, so his mind is quite open.

DOWAGER.

You appear to have no views, Julian.

EGIDIA.

Lady Drumdurris, let Sir Julian look at the height and character of Fergus's brow.

EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.

Pray do. It's a soldier's forehead.

DOWAGER.

Julian. [She hands the infant to SIR JULIAN.]

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Thank you. Politics or the Army? [Addressing the child in his arms.] My dear Fergus, take my advice, not, _not_ politics.

EGIDIA.

Ah!

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

If you attach any trifling importance to veracity as a habit, _not_ politics. If you would care at any time upon any subject to form your own opinions, and having formed them, would wish to maintain them, _not_ politics. If you desire to be of the smallest service to your fellow man, and if you would sleep as peacefully at sixty as you now sleep at six months, _not_ politics.

EGIDIA.

Sir Julian!

EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.

The Army!

EGIDIA.