Milton would not have avoided them for their sibilancy, he who wrote […] verses that hiss like Medusa's head in wrath.

Although Mr Balladur is far ahead in the opinion polls, the spring election is far from being a one-horse race.

But they did not stop. The woman and the man only looked in great rage at the smith for making game of them.

The conference — Mr. Allen’s first gathering, and, depending on the economic outlook, maybe his last — brought together entrepreneurs, techies, writers and even some middle managers who’ve cottoned on to his ideas.