16/21 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? |