, sometimes difficult to catch full
length of sentences. This added to impressiveness of scene. Crowded
House sitting breathless; Members opposite leaning forward lest
they might miss a phrase. Everyone conscious that at the door also
listening were jealous France, the wily Turk, the interested Egyptian,
the not entirely disinterested CZAR, and the other Great Powers
concerned for peace of Europe.

Mr. G., for all his affectation of unpremeditation, evidently had in
mind these listeners at the door. To their shadowy presence was, for
him, added consciousness of keen eyes watching him from all quarters
of the House; some of his friends waiting for sign of readiness to
quit Egypt; the Opposition ready to catch at any token of tendency to
scuttle. Occasional passages he delivered at rapid rate; but you could
see him weighing every word with due consideration of these manifold
and conflicting interests and influences.

When he sat down, there was consciousness that the massive figure of
important Debate that had loomed over House whilst DILKE was speaking
had melted away. JOKIM and GORST had intended to speak from Front
Bench; great authorities on Foreign Policy in other parts of House
had proposed to say something, more or less soothing. Mr. G. had left
nothing for anyone to say, unless it were ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS, and the
TALENTED TOMMY, who, sitting immediately opposite the PREMIER, had,
whilst he spoke, taken voluminous notes, only occasionally withdrawing
eyes from manuscript to fix them with look of calm distrust upon the
aged and unconscious statesman.

"I always like, when I look in," said MARJORIBANKS, smiling
beneficently from the Bar, "to find TOMMY in his place, taking notes.
Gives one a sense of security. I feel, when I'm in the Lobby, looking
after things, it's all right in the House. BROWNING said something of
that sort. Don't remember exactly how it ran; something in this way:

TOMMY BOWLES is in his place;
It's all right with the Empire."

_Business done._--Mr. G. excelled himself.

_Tuesday._--Seven-leagued Boots not needed by TALENTED TOMMY. He moves
about universe with ease and grace, unmindful of mountains, regardless
of ravines, reckless of rivers, oblivious of oceans. Last night, Forty
Centuries looked down upon him whilst he showed how, in Egypt, Mr. G.
is wrong, and DILKE, who criticised Ministerial policy, is not right.
To-night he stands on the Roof of the World, a solitary, colossal
figu