Everybody was in really good spirits by the time Lord Rosebery ten minutes on his legs; Lord Selborne's unctuous dronings had disappeared into the irrevocable and vast distances; in short, the moribund Chamber was alive, vivacious, and receptive.

And when he had got them to this point Lord Rosebery took the serious part of his work seriously in hand.

Not that he attempted lofty appeal.

On the contrary, rarely throughout the speech did he raise his voice above that clear, penetrating, but eminently self-restrained tone which is the tone of a man of good society, discussing the loftiest and most complex problem with the easy and disillusioned composure of the experienced and slightly cynical man of the world.

Nay, Lord Rosebery offended some of his critics by openly avowing the creed of the man of the world in dealing with the whole problem.