to have his 'eye caught' by the member for
Westminster. As long as any other member would rise he would not have
his eye caught. But Melmotte was persistent, and determined not to be
put down. At last no one else would speak, and the House was about to
negative the motion without a division,--when Melmotte was again on his
legs, still persisting. The Speaker scowled at him and leaned back in
his chair. Melmotte standing erect, turning his head round from one
side of the House to another, as though determined that all should see
his audacity, propping himself with his knees against the seat before
him, remained for half a minute perfectly silent. He was drunk,--but
better able than most drunken men to steady himself, and showing in
his face none of those outward signs of intoxication by which
drunkenness is generally made apparent. But he had forgotten in his
audacity that words are needed for the making of a speech, and now he
had not a word at his command. He stumbled forward, recovered himself,
then looked once more round the House with a glance of anger, and
after that toppled headlong over the shoulders of Mr Beauchamp
Beauclerk, who was sitting in front of him.

He might have wrapped his toga around him better perhaps had he
remained at home, but if to have himself talked about was his only
object, he could hardly have taken a surer course. The scene, as it
occurred, was one very likely to be remembered when the performer
should have been carried away into enforced obscurity. There was much
commotion in the House. Mr Beauclerk, a man of natural good nature,
though at the moment put to considerable personal inconvenience,
hastened, when he recovered his own equilibrium, to assist the drunken
man. But Melmotte had by no means lost the power of helping himself.
He quickly recovered his legs, and then reseating himself, put his hat
on, and endeavoured to look as though nothing special had occurred.
The House resumed its business, taking no further notice of Melmotte,
and having no special rule of its own as to the treatment to be
adopted with drunken members. But the member for Westminster caused no
further inconvenience. He remained in his seat for perhaps ten
minutes, and then, not with a very steady step, but still with
capacity sufficient for his own guidance, he made his way down to the
doors. His exit was watched in silence, and the moment was an anxious
one for the Speaker, the clerks, and all who were near him