Even the hardened hacks were astonished, grizzled veterans of the long miles of the Northern Peace Process.
At Farmleigh House on Wednesday the DUP leader took the opportunity to send out a series of unmistakable signals.
Here was Paisley once more enjoying the astonishment he created all round as he turned in a truly unexpected performance. Here was Paisley the statesman, Paisley the genial First Minister from the place just up the road, and Paisley...
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