Meanwhile he's taking measure of his foe,
Meanwhile his foe of him is taking stock;
And anon they'll come together in a glow,
With a shock!
THE PREMIER'S POWER.
Brief Fragment of a current Historical Romance.
[It is whispered that the Prime Minister has of late taken too much into his own hands the conduct of the foreign affairs of the Government.—Smoking-room Gossip.]
The Prime Minister stood upon the rug, with his back to the fire, and regarded his assembled colleagues with an imperious and angry scowl. There was a profound and significant silence for several minutes. At length it broke. He was addressing them once more.
"You understand the official relationship that exists between us. You are my creatures. I am your Master. What I originate, you accept. I act, you endorse. Do I," he continued, his voice rising to a shrill, piping treble, "do I make myself sufficiently clear?"