d
amusing speech in the course of the evening, in defence of Lord
Clanricarde and in an attack on Mr. Justice Mathew; but observers
thought they saw a look of palpable discomfort pass across his face at
the approach of the Marquis of Clanricarde. The Lord of Woodford handed
to Lord Salisbury a little bundle of papers; in the distance, the bundle
had an inexpressibly shabby look--the look one might expect on the
bundle which some Miss Flit of the Legislature would bring every day, as
the record of her undetermined claim. Altogether, this appearance of
Lord Clanricarde in the glimpses of the moon, rather added to the
mysterious atmosphere in which he loves to live.

[Sidenote: Sir Charles Dilke.]

In the meantime, a very interesting debate was going on in the House of
Commons. I have already remarked that Sir Charles Dilke has, in an
extremely short time, re-established that mastery over the ear and the
mind of the House of Commons which he used to exercise with such
extraordinary power in the old days before misfortune overcame him. It
is a power and mastery derived from a perfect House of Commons mind. Sir
Charles Dilke, doubtless, has written on many subjects outside mere
politics; but in politics his whole heart and soul are concentrated.
There is no man in the House of Commons so thoroughly political. It
would be bewildering to give even the heads of the subjects on which he
has written and in which he is profoundly learned. He has written about
our Army--he could tell you everything about every army corps in the
German Army--he knows all about every fortress on the French
frontier--he can convey to you a photographic picture of every great
public man on the Continent--he would be able in the morning to take
charge of the Admiralty, and over and on top of all this knowledge he
could tell you every detail of the law of registration, of parochial
rating, of vestry work, and all the rest of that curious technical, dry,
detailed information which raises the ire of parish souls, and forms the
fierce conflicts of suburban ratepayers.

[Sidenote: Egypt.]

It could be seen after he had been five minutes on his legs that Sir
Charles Dilke was about to give on Egypt a speech which would suggest
this sense of easy and complete mastery of all the facts, and that,
therefore, the speech would be a thorough success. And so it was--so
successful, indeed, that it was listened to with equal attention by the
Tories as by the Liber