Indeed, it might have seemed for some time as if Lord Rosebery got up with the idea of treating the whole business as the merest unreality of comedy; and had resolved to signify this by refusing to treat either the House or the Bill or himself seriously.

In face of the tragedies of the Irish sphinx--with all its centuries of brooding sorrow behind it, this was not a tone which commended itself to the judicious.

But, then, this was a too hasty criticism.

The light and almost chaffing introduction was necessary in the highest interests of art; for, as I have said, the House was depressed, and it was in no mood to listen to an orator whose creed appeared to it the merest rank treason.

It was necessary to get the House into something like receptiveness of mood before coming to serious business; when that was done, it was time enough to seek to impress it.
[Sidenote: An oratorical tour de force.] And this is just what happened.