e, the prevalent
note of his voice and manner is composure. For the moment, either from
surprise, relief, the joy they can badly conceal--whatever the reason,
the Tories seem to be nonplussed. The audacious ally who is always ready
to rush rashly into the breach on such occasions is away in Birmingham;
and with all his excellent qualities, Mr. Balfour is not remarkable for
readiness. Accordingly there is an awkward pause, and no one rises from
the Opposition Benches. This is serious, for first blood tells in
Parliamentary as in other prize fights. The Old Man, however, is all
alive. He passes on from this mighty announcement as though he had said
nothing in particular, and taking a bundle of notes--put together with
characteristic care and neatness even in the very centre of all this
storm--he proceeds to tell Mr. Goschen something about the currency
question, and the state of the silver market in India. The currency--who
cares about the currency now? Even the hardiest bimetallist cannot be
got to think of his hobby in the face of the dread news just heard. By
the time Mr. Gladstone has given his answers, Mr. Balfour has managed to
slightly recover himself, and has framed a question to the Old Man.

[Sidenote: The precedent of 1887.]

When at last the question does come, it is of a very innocent character.
The Old Man has declared that he had not the terms of the resolution
ready, but that they would be announced to the House before its rising
in the evening. All Mr. Balfour wishes to know is, what time it will be
when these terms are given. Such is the simple question; but the reply
is of a very different character. It was delivered in studiously
moderate terms; the voice of Mr. Gladstone never rises above a sweet
coo; but there is fire, defiance, inflexible determination in every
syllable, and the first blow is struck when the wily Old Man
announces--as though it were the merest business affair--that the
closure resolution which the Government will introduce, is founded upon
the principle of the resolution of 1887. He can go no further for
several seconds. The Irish, with their ready wits--their fierce and keen
memories--have caught the point at once; and they burst into a
cheer--loud, fierce, and prolonged. What it means is this: In 1887, the
Tories had carried a closure resolution for the purpose of forcing
through the Coercion Bill of that year; and it was under the working of
that closure resolution that the Bill