"Not exactly," he said; "but there is the case of a Speaker who became Prime Minister. ADDINGTON, you will remember, Speaker in 1789, was Premier at the turn of the century. It was said of him, by the way, that he never quite overcame the force of old habits. When engaged with the Cabinet in consideration of foreign affairs he had difficulty in refraining from saying 'The French to the right, the Austrians to the left.' Don't see why the case shouldn't be taken the other way about, and an ex-Premier become Speaker. Fancy I may take it that I have some qualifications for the post. Know the House pretty intimately; have been familiar with it for some years. Am told I never looked so picturesque as when, on public occasions, I wore official gown of Chancellor of Exchequer. Think the Speaker's dress would suit me. But that a mere trifle. What I hanker after, at my time of life, at the close of a career not absolutely free from hard work, is some post not too arduous. Seems to me the Speakership would be the very thing; just enough to do, and not too much." [Illustration: _Mr. G._ (_disguised in Speaker's wig and gown_). "Rather fancy the costume would suit me down to the ground!"] If it had been anyone but SARK had said this, would have listened with incredulity. But SARK most respectable man. _Business done._--ROBERTSON in excellent speech explained Navy Estimates. _Thursday._--The Silence of SILOMIO. No, it's not the title of a novel. You're thinking of the late Dean MAITLAND. This quite another story; equally tragic. Came about this way. House met to deal with Army Estimates. CAWMEL-BANNERMAN in his place, after ten days in his bedroom with a cold. The cold must have had most amusing companion, that is if CAWMEL was as pawky with it as he was to-night with the semi-military horde led by Private HANBURY, who swooped down and barred approach to Committee, These deployed in the open; placed their amendments on the paper. House knew what to expect. Never suspected SILOMIO in ambush. As soon as questions over, plot disclosed. COCHRANE, a harmless, perhaps necessary, man, put up to move adjournment, in order to discuss the Swazi question. That in itself a stroke of genius. Had SILOMIO personally moved, game would have seemed too stale. Probability is forty Members not been found to stand up in support of motion. Looks much better to have such action taken on one side of House and supported from the other; invests it with air of impartiality and unanimity. On challenge from the SPEAKER, Conservatives rose in body to support COCHRANE'S request. Having secured that object, and being on their legs, they strolled out, leaving SQUIRE OF MALWOOD, SYDNEY BUXTON, and about a score of others all told, to listen to COCHRANE'S urgent message. Amongst them sat FRANK LOCKWOOD, with tender gleam in eyes that roamed with curious intentness about Speaker's chair.