I dare not say how many seconds the groaning and the cheering lasted, groaning and cheering through which, at intervals, the Speaker’s stern voice was heard calling persistently for order.
But at last it did die down, and when it had died down, half a dozen men on each side were found standing on their legs, eager to catch the Speaker’s eye. But when it was found that John Drury had risen with the rest, the others sat down, and he remained standing, very pale, very quiet, very determined, facing his antagonists, who greeted him with cries of “Spoke, spoke, spoke.”
“I wish, Mr. Speaker,” said John Drury, “to make a personal explanation,” and as he uttered those words all of us, who sat near him, caught up the phrase, and shouted “personal explanation” as loudly and as long as we could.
Amidst the tumult the Speaker rose from his chair, and John Drury immediately sat down. The tumult subsided, as it always does when the Speaker asserts his authority.
“Does the honourable member,” the Speaker asked, glancing in the direction where John Drury sat, “wish to make a personal explanation to the House?”
John Drury raised his hat, the Speaker sat down, gathering the folds of his black robe about him, and John Drury rose to his feet, this time in perfect silence. I glanced up to the Gallery, and saw, or thought I saw, a pale, lovely face, and two enchanting eyes.
“I rise, Sir,” said John Drury, speaking very calmly and slowly, “to utter, with your permission, and with the permission of this House, which is always generous to an attacked man, a few, a very few, words of personal explanation.”
Here almost everyone, even on the Ministerial side, applauded, for, to do the House justice, it is generally willing to give a man a chance to defend himself.
“The right honourable gentleman, who has just sat down,” John Drury went on, “has accused me of being a convicted felon.”
Here a few cheers came from the neighbourhood of the Drury assailant, but they were not convincing cheers, and they were hushed down by a storm of disapproval on our side.