could act put of your noble instincts are over. Except 0f course, you here in

Europe don't yet seem to know it.

 

Gentlemen like our good host still believe it's their business to meddle in

matters they don't understand. So much hog-wash has been spoken here these past

two days. Well-meaning, naive hog-wash. You here in Europe need professionals to

run your affairs. If you don't realize that soon you're headed for disaster. A

toast, gentlemen. Let me make a toast. To professionalism."

 

There was a stunned silence and no one moved.

 

Mr Lewis shrugged, raised his glass to all the company, drank and sat back down.

 

Almost immediately, Lord Darlington stood up.

 

"I have no wish," his lordship said, "to enter into a quarrel on this our last

evening together which we all deserve to enjoy as a happy and triumphant

occasion. But it is out of respect for your views, Mr Lewis, that I feel one

should not simply cast them to one side as though they were uttered by some

soap-box eccentric. Let me say this. What you describe as 'amateurism', sir, is

what I think most of us here still prefer to call 'honour'."

 

This brought a loud murmur of assent with several 'hear, hear's' and some

applause.