But there was a certain peculiarity about the questioning on this Thursday evening.

A stranger to the House would have remarked that all the questions addressed to Mr.
Gladstone were asked last.

This was not an accidental arrangement.

It was done in the case of every leader of the House, so as to leave him more time before coming down to the House of Commons.

It was done in the case of Mr.Balfour when he was leader of the House, with the result that that very limp and leisurely gentleman never came down to his place until the House had been one or two hours at work.