There was a rush for the platform, and a fierce, threatening yell.

Mr.Shea hung back, frightened.

Augusta Goold held up her hand, and immediately the rush stopped and the people were silent.

She went on with her question, taking it up at the exact word which Mr.Shea had interrupted, in the same level and exquisitely irritating tone.
'-- Any of the money entrusted to you by the Irish people to assist the Boers in their struggle for freedom ?' Mr.O'Rourke had sat scowling silently since the failure of his last attempt to explain himself.

This final disjointed repetition of the galling question roused him to the necessity of doing something.