"However, let's take your 'political economy' a moment, and see if I can understand what you mean by it.

There never were two words that meant all things to all men so disreputably!" And thereupon to the constant accompaniment of his cigarette, and with the utmost composure and good temper, he began to "heckle" his companion, putting questions, suggesting perfidious illustrations, extracting innocent admissions, with a practised shrewdness and malice, which presently left the unfortunate Bateson floundering in a sea of his own contradictions, and totally unable for the moment to attach any rational idea whatever to those great words of his favourite science, wherewith he was generally accustomed to make such triumphant play, both on the platform and in the bosom of the family.
The permanent official round the corner watched the unequal fight with attentive amusement.

Once when it was a question of Mill's doctrine of cost of production as compared with that of a leading modern collectivist, he leant forward and supplied a correction of something Wharton had said.

Wharton instantly put down his cigarette and addressed him in another tone.

A rapid dialogue passed between them, the dialogue of experts, sharp, allusive, elliptical, in the midst of which the host gave the signal for joining the ladies.
"Well, all I know is," said Bateson, as he got up, "that these kinds of questions, if you and your friends have your way, will _wreck_ the Liberal party before long--far more effectually than anything Irish has ever done.