And the statement came to this: If the Government were defeated, it would be by a combination of different parties, but they would all agree in supporting 103 as against 80 Irish members; and if they did that, why the House was master.

This was ambiguous, and yet it was pretty plain.
The Government declined to accept as a vote of want of confidence in them a majority which was obtained by so dishonest and treacherous a combination as men voting together who were at such opposite poles of thought; and the Government would just checkmate the little game by accepting the 103 members as what the House preferred to the Government plan of 80.
[Sidenote: The fall of the flag.] There was a gleam of almost sardonic triumph in the Old Man's eye as he sat down, having shot this bolt; and he looked as if he had thoroughly discomfited his enemies.

But his enemies were not so easily discomfited.
Treacherous, base, unscrupulous, call it what he liked, they were not going to miss the opportunity of baiting him: and Mr.Chamberlain's pale face wore a deadlier pallor.

There was even a colder and fiercer ring than usual in his clear, cruel voice; his always saturnine look deepened as he seemed to grasp beforehand his great and long delayed hour of vengeance.

Mr.Balfour adopted the same tactics.