eserted. And yet at four,
immediately after prayers, there had been such a crowd that members
had been unable to find seats! Tregear and Silverbridge having been
early had succeeded, but those who had been less careful were obliged
to listen as best they could in the galleries. The stretching out of
necks and the holding of hands behind the ears did not last long.
Sir Timothy had not had much to say, but what he did say was spoken
with a dignity which seemed to anticipate future exaltation rather
than present downfall. There had arisen a question in regard to
revenue,--he need hardly tell them that it was that question in
reference to brewers' licences to which the honourable gentleman
opposite had alluded on the previous day,--as to which unfortunately
he was not in accord with his noble friend the Prime Minister. Under
the circumstances it was hardly possible that they should at once
proceed to business, and he therefore moved that the House should
stand adjourned till Tuesday next. That was the whole statement.

Not very long afterwards the Prime Minister made another statement
in the House of Lords. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer had very
suddenly resigned and had thereby broken up the Ministry, he had
found himself compelled to place his resignation in the hands of
her Majesty. Then that House was also adjourned. On that afternoon
all the clubs were alive with admiration at the great cleverness
displayed by Sir Timothy in this transaction. It was not only that
he had succeeded in breaking up the Ministry, and that he had done
this without incurring violent disgrace; but he had so done it as
to throw all the reproach upon his late unfortunate colleague. It
was thus that Mr. Lupton explained it. Sir Timothy had been at the
pains to ascertain on what matters connected with the Revenue, Lord
Drummond,--or Lord Drummond's closest advisers,--had opinions of
their own, opinions strong enough not to be abandoned; and having
discovered that, he also discovered arguments on which to found an
exactly contrary opinion. But as the Revenue had been entrusted
specially to his unworthy hands, he was entitled to his own opinion
on this matter. "The majority of the House," said Mr. Lupton,
"and the entire public, will no doubt give him credit for great
self-abnegation."

All this happened on the Friday. During the Saturday it was
considered probable that the Cabinet would come to terms with itself,
and that internal wounds wo