There was a tense silence, and then, after a moment's deliberation, the presiding officer said in a hard, cold tone:
"I'm very sorry, but the gentleman is too late. The vote has just been taken and the bill is defeated."
Barry felt as if he would crumple up and fall on the floor in a heap. Danny Burns made his contribution to the general grief in one sentence. He said:
"It's a beastly shame!"
But John Carlton evidently had an inspiration. He was on his feet in an instant.
"I move that the vote by which the Cleverly bill was defeated be reconsidered."
The Chairman looked at him reproachfully.
"The gentleman surely knows that a motion to reconsider can only be made by a person who has voted in the negative."
"Who voted against your bill, John?" cried Warrington, in fine disregard of parliamentary law.
"Curwood, for one."