Inside, a heavyset older woman, head partly veiled, sat behind a wooden counter on top of which rested a row of variously sized glass bottles.

For a counter, the difference in the value between the last and the first history row of the 3 rows.

The natural rhythm of a British scandal, visible in the parliamentary-expenses row, will assert itself: wrongdoers will go to prison; there should be a usefully ethical counter-reaction.