Enervating had been a great word with Mr.Monk, and Phineas had clung to it with admiration.
The meeting took place at Mr.Mildmay's on the third day of the session.

Phineas had of course heard of such meetings before, but had never attended one.

Indeed, there had been no such gathering when Mr.Mildmay's party came into power early in the last session.

Mr.
Mildmay and his men had then made their effort in turning out their opponents, and had been well pleased to rest awhile upon their oars.
Now, however, they must go again to work, and therefore the liberal party was collected at Mr.Mildmay's house, in order that the liberal party might be told what it was that Mr.Mildmay and his Cabinet intended to do.
Phineas Finn was quite in the dark as to what would be the nature of the performance on this occasion, and entertained some idea that every gentleman present would be called upon to express individually his assent or dissent in regard to the measure proposed.

He walked to St.James's Square with Laurence Fitzgibbon; but even with Fitzgibbon was ashamed to show his ignorance by asking questions.