[Sidenote: The bullet in Downing Street.]
And now I come to the point which, after all, had been the most
interesting during the week, and which, though rarely mentioned, was in
everybody's mind. It was on the Thursday evening that Mr. Sexton got up
quietly to ask whether the reports published in the evening papers were
true, that a man had been arrested the previous night in Downing Street,
who had apparently intended to attempt the assassination of the Prime
Minister. There was death-like stillness all over the House as Mr.
Sexton put his question--picking his words slowly and deliberately. If
men were not so anxious and so shocked there might have been some
demonstration of the vehement anger which was felt in so many breasts as
Mr. Sexton brought out the words which put in collocation in the mind of
the unfortunate lunatic the idea of attempting to kill Mr. Gladstone,
and the phrase of Sir Henry James during the debate on the Home Rule
Bill. But feeling was too intense and solemn for outspoken or loud
utterance, and Mr. Sexton was allowed to put his question to the end
without any interruption from the intensely excited and profoundly
thrilled assembly.
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