We come up and take our
places. It's almost expected. We take a hand. That's where our Democracy
differs from America. Over there a man succeeds; all he gets is money.
Here there's a system open to every one--practically.... Chaps like
Boom--come from nowhere."
His voice ceased. I reflected upon the spirit of his words. Suddenly I
kicked my feet in the air, rolled on my side and sat up suddenly on my
deck chair with my legs down.
"You don't mean it!" I said.
"Mean what, George?"
"Subscription to the party funds. Reciprocal advantage. Have we got to
that?"
"Whad you driving at, George?"
"You know. They'd never do it, man!"
"Do what?" he said feebly; and, "Why shouldn't they?"
"They'd not even go to a baronetcy. NO!.... And yet, of course, there's
Boom! And Collingshead and Gorver. They've done beer, they've done
snippets! After all Tono-Bungay--it's not like a turf commission
agent or anything like that!... There have of course been some very
gentlemanly commission agents. It isn't like a fool of a scientific man
who can't make money!"
My uncle grunted; we'd differed on that issue before.
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