The May Fly—drat it, does not rise in May!
ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.
House of Commons, Monday, May 13.—"Well," said the Member for the Otley division of Yorkshire, "I suppose I've gone through as many vicissitudes as most men. First I was a Barran, now I'm a baronite. Really, I don't know but what, if they'd made me an earl, I wouldn't go and sit in the House of Lords. Not because, as good Radical, I don't despise them, but just to give them advantage of my company, and place in their way a useful example. Instead of which, here's Wolmer become Earl of Selborne, and insists upon continuing to sit with us!"
The Pirate's Convoy. Penny plain, Twopence coloured.
Incursion of the Pirate Peer effectively managed. Those old campaigners, George Curzon and St. John Brodrick, took the business in hand. The thing was to be a great surprise. Accordingly, took the Speaker into confidence, also the Squire of Malwood (The Little Minister, Macfarlane, who has just been reading Barrie, calls him), Prince Arthur, Joseph, and a score or two others. The Pirate Peer was to come down in hansom at four o'clock, to be met by Brodrick in Palace Yard; Curzon, armed to the teeth, standing at fifty paces nearer entrance to House of Commons.
Brodrick, who likes to do the thing thoroughly, suggested that the Pirate Peer should fly a black flag out of port-hole at top of cab. Curzon liked idea, but thought it would attract inconvenient attention. Finally compromised by arrangement that cabby should tie bit of black ribbon on his whip. Effect symbolic without being obtrusive.
Everything went off excellently. Not a hitch in the arrangements. Whilst questions still going on George Curzon, with frock-coat lightly but firmly buttoned over a belt teeming with pistols, sauntered in from lobby. Glanced carelessly round House. Accidentally, as it were, placed himself between unsuspecting Sergeant-at-Arms and glass door giving entrance to House. If the armed official attacked Pirate Peer it should be across his (Curzon's) body.