eight o'clock
The Government , adopting a neutral attitude , carefully skirted all dangerous subjects ; while the Opposition , acting under Fraide 's suggestion , assisted rather than hindered the programme of postponement . For the moment the eagerly anticipated reassembling threatened dismal failure ; and it was with a universal movement of weariness and relief that at last the House rose to dine . But there are no possibilities so elastic as those of politics . At half-past seven the House rose in a spirit of boredom and disappointment ; and at eight o'clock the lobbies , the dining-room , the entire space of the vast building , was stirred into activity by the arrival of a single telegraphic message . The new development for which Fraide had waited came indeed , but it came with a force he had little anticipated . With a thrill of awe and consternation men heard and repeated the astounding news that -- while personally exercising his authority on behalf of British traders -- Sir William Brice-Field , Consul-General at Meshed , had been fired at by a Russian officer and instantly killed . The interval immediately following the receipt of this news was too confused for detailed remembrance .