Long Spoon Lane - Anne Perry [53]
Charlotte gave silent applause in her mind. To have reminded people of their creature comforts and their popularity in one stroke was masterly.
Jack continued as soon as the mutterings died down sufficiently. He did not mention the issue of servants again. Instead he argued that the success of the police, who were drawn largely from precisely the class of people most likely to be stopped or searched, depended upon the support of the community. He gave moving examples, and ended by stating that he thought Tanqueray’s bill was excessive and misjudged.
Two members argued in support of it, pouring into their speeches both emotion and logic.
Then Voisey rose. The rustles died away to silence. The woman in black beside Charlotte murmured something in approval. Charlotte had no idea whether the woman knew what Voisey was going to say, or not.
He began by praising Jack’s words and his courage in saying them, at possible cost to himself. He was a man of principle not expediency. At this point Emily shot a rueful glance sideways. Charlotte met her eyes, then looked back at Voisey. No matter what he said, she must never forget that he was the enemy. She must study him until she found his vulnerability, personal or professional: a dream, a hope, a mistake, anything at all.
Voisey continued, not by adding to the weight of evidence but by questioning the wisdom of giving guns to men who habitually dealt with violent elements of society. Might that not end in more weapons falling into the hands of criminals, particularly anarchists? Might it not end with warfare on the streets, and a number of innocent members of the public finding themselves hostages, victims, the eventual losers in such battles? It would damage business, and ultimately cost votes. The argument was aimed at their least noble interests. Charlotte despised it. But it was clever! No one booed or hissed. It was greeted by troubled silence.
Charlotte and Emily remained where they were until the first convenient opportunity to leave. Then they excused themselves and made their way down to the main halls and outside.
“He is going to sacrifice his career for nothing!” Emily said furiously. She was referring to Jack, of course.
“You mean we should do the right thing only if it comes at no cost?” Charlotte said incredulously, barely even attempting to keep the horror out of her voice.
Emily glared at her. “Don’t be so stupid!” she snapped. “I’m saying there is no sense in making a sacrifice you don’t have to! It is far more practical to keep your shot and use it when you can do some good.” She was walking so briskly that Charlotte had trouble keeping up. “Politics is not about making grand gestures, it is about winning!” Emily went on, her smart black-and-white skirts all but tripping her up. “You represent other people—and they did not elect you to play the hero strutting about with grand and pointless gestures, soothing your own conscience. They elected you to get things changed, not gallop at the enemy’s guns like the Charge of the Light Brigade!”
“I thought they elected you to represent their views,” Charlotte replied, ignoring the military simile.
“Represent them to some purpose, not to do it ineffectively. Any fool could do that!” Emily walked even more rapidly and Charlotte had to increase her pace yet again to keep up with her. Her skirts swung wildly and she nearly bumped into a young man going in the opposite direction.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“I suppose I can’t expect you to understand,” Emily responded. “You’ve never been in that position.”
“I wasn’t apologizing to you!” Charlotte said furiously. “I walked into someone!”
“Then you should look where you are going!”
“Do you think you are the only one whose husband ever places himself in danger in order to do what he thinks is right?” she demanded. “How incredibly self-centered you are!”
Emily stopped so abruptly that two men behind them