It is that he must bring down everything that Churchill stands for.

You know what that is--the sort of probity, all the old order of things.

And the more vile the means used to destroy de Mersch the more vile the whole affair will seem.
People--the sort of people--have an idea that a decent man cannot be touched by tortuous intrigues.

And the whole thing will be--oh, malodorous.

You understand." "I don't," I answered, "I don't understand at all." "Ah, yes, you do," she said, "you understand...." She paused for a long while, and I was silent.