De Marco is the perfect illustration of how the legal profession can put a stain on an otherwise fine record. He was a good man at heart. But his work as a criminal lawyer meant the inevitable hobnobbing with the police force. Hence his mentorship of Tuks and letting bygones be bygones post-87.

The question of whether it was all worth it I will leave to historians.

But the question of whether a lawyer can or should dabble in politics I can answer myself: preferably not for any sort of lawyer. Absolutely not for a criminal lawyer.

Now I expect Franco Debono to reply.

Ahem. He was Mintoff’s lawyer during the infamous Case of the Unpaid Utility Bills.

In any case, those of my generation all fit the bill.

I thought his most famous quote was ‘Ahna Maltin fino all’ultimo sangue.’

Omiodio.

C’mon Baxxter. I thought you knew all things Maltese. Google him. No pomposity here. Nice guy,

Then perhaps you chose the wrong profession, L. Gatt. Get out before it’s too late.

You see them everywhere, with their Italianate ways and their Maltese platters, their tight but boxy suits, their overdressed girlfriends, their nasal baritone accents, and now their iPads with the little hinging cover. Not many of them wear three-piece nowadays, but when they do, the lower button on the weskit is always fastened.

De Marco’s most famous quote is the one you won’t find in any of his books. “Il-giurisprudenza tesor”, he once said. Yeah right. Tezor ghal dan in-nazzjon tal-imhuh illamtati.

Who’s he?

He’s forgotten how many times he said Mintoff was rotten. Oh, but, yes, I must remember… he’s done the same thing Sandro Schembri Adami did, that other sublime creature.

Well said, old-timer.

One simply has to see Muscat’s Cheshire-cat expression to deduce that he is proud as Punch to have Manwel Mallia in his fold. Maybe he thinks he’s acquired someone “high kless” – Taf int, wiehed li kien ta’ gewwa ma’ ta’ Guido.