Page:The Prime Minister by Hall Caine.djvu/44

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20
THE PRIME MINISTER

Hallam.
Such a hideous social tragedy, too! We have tens of thousands of our neighbour nation living in our midst, and shall have to do as we did before—treat them all as enemies.

Carfax.
Yes, the people who have dined at our tables, slept in our beds.

Hallam.
Our alien servants, also—we shall have to turn them all out of doors.

Carfax.
And shut them up in barbed-wire encampments.

Hallam.
Men and women—women particularly, perhaps.

[There is a dull rumble of voices outside in the distance. The men listen to it.

Dundas.
[In a breathless whisper.] What time—now?

Carfax.
Two minutes to eleven.

[The men drop their heads. Sir Robert rises, goes to window, draws back curtains. Park seen outside. Murmur becomes louder; then dies down.

Hallam.
Sir Robert?