[Sidenote: A diversion.]
It was at this moment--and, curiously enough, his victory was very soon
dashed to the ground--that Mr. Harrington, one of the Parnellites,
struck in with a blow. In Parliamentary, as in other tactics, one of the
wisest expedients--especially if things are going rather wrong with
yourself--is to carry the war into the enemies' country. And this is
exactly what Mr. Harrington did. He turned upon Joe and denounced him
for seeking at one time to obtain the alliance of these very Irish
members whom now he was denouncing. He accused him of sending
ambassadors to them when they were in prison, and, in short, brought Joe
face to face with an almost forgotten period of his history. Then he was
almost a Home Ruler in profession, and looked to the Irish members as a
portion of the force he would by-and-bye marshal in his own army.
[Sidenote: A quid pro quo.]
Joe grew pale. It is a curious fact that, whenever any allusion is made
to this special period of his life, Mr. Chamberlain becomes particularly
disturbed; possibly, it is that he is conscious of the rash things he
has said at this period; possibly, it is that it can be proved to the
world that he was at this period in favour of the principles and the men
he now so loudly denounces.
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