"Well, I think that's being rather hard on them. They have to take the men the party whips gave them. I think they're a poor lot, but I wouldn't call them politicians."
The guest moved uneasily. "I don't quite see your point," he said. "Is the term 'politician' one of reproach or praise? I once stood for my local constituency and----"
The young officer with his heels on the stove gave a sudden snort. "Don't you believe him, he's pulling your legs--so don't apologise. He's no politician, anyway."
The guest laughed. "Well, I'm not in politics now," he said. "What is your definition of this strange animal?"
There was a pause, and then a cautious reply, "Well, he's an M.P."
"But I know some very charming M.P.'s--are they all politicians?"
"Oh no, sir. They're different. It's a question of standards, really."
"Well, you see--we have one--and civilians have another, business people and so on, and then there's the politicians."
"You ought to write a dictionary, Pongo--you snub-nosed old shell-back. No, I ain't scrapping, and if you get up I'll take your chair."
"Whose got a cigarette? No, not one of your stinkers--gimme one of yours, Guns."
The officer addressed politely passed a cigarette across in his fingers, and turning in his chair beckoned to a marine servant who was just returning with an empty tray from the Bridge table.
"A cigarette, please, waiter--and debit it to the account of my honourable friend Mr Maugham, here. I'll stop your cadging, Pongo--if I have to take on the tobacco accounts to do it."
"Lucky there's no shortage of 'baccy, or all the armies would strike."
"Well, that'd be one way to stop the war. You can't fight without it. Wish we had some tobacco shares. Some people must be making a lot."
"I don't believe the food people do make so much. It's the world shortage that causes the trouble, not the prices--or rather one involves the other."
"It isn't so much that. It's a rise of prices all round. Things get expensive, so the country strikes for higher wages and gets them--then prices go up because the sovereign has depreciated, and they strike again. It goes on in a vicious circle."
"Can't be a circle--because that's progression. You've got to get to a smash in time."