Many of the rules of the House--including several which lend themselves to obstruction--are due to this feeling of constant vigilance and suspicion towards the Crown.
Mr.Sexton is one of the men whose life is centred in the House of Commons.

He will attend to no other business, except under the direst pressure--he has no other interests--though he used to be one of the greatest of readers, and still can quote Shakespeare and other masterpieces of English literature better than any man in the House except Mr.Justin McCarthy.

Thus, when he rose after midnight, he had in his notes before him a perfectly tabulated account of the riots in Belfast, so that every single fact was present to his mind.

The story he had to tell is already known--the attacks on Catholic workmen--on Catholic boys--on Catholic girls--by the sturdy defenders of law, loyalty, and order in Belfast.

It was not an occasion for strong speech--the facts spoke with their silent eloquence better than any tongue could do.