As long as there was any give and take going on
in the melee of words he would speak quickly and with energy, seizing
his chances among others; but the moment he had established his right
to the floor, as soon as he had won for himself the position of having
his turn at the argument, he would dole out his words with considerable
slowness, raise his hand for oratorical effect, and proceed as though
Time were annihilated. And he would go further even than this, for
fearing by experience the escape of his victims, he would catch a man by
the button-hole of his coat, or back him ruthlessly into the corner of
a room, and then lay on to him without quarter. Since the affair with
Mr Glascock had been settled, he had talked an immensity about England,
not absolutely taking honour to himself because of his intended
connection with a lord, but making so many references to the
aristocratic side of the British constitution as to leave no doubt on
the minds of his hearers as to the source of his arguments. In old
days, before all this was happening, Mr Spalding, though a courteous
man in his personal relations, had constantly spoken of England with
the bitter indignation of the ordinary American politician.
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