'OK pal, outside, now'
Iain Gray was granted a fifth question at Holyrood today by a benevolent presiding officer.
Bet Mr Gray wishes now that he'd stuck at four.
In response to that bonus inquisition, Mr Salmond noted drolly that he had faced three Labour leaders in the chamber and, given today's performance, might be on course to cope with a fourth.
The extra question had been added because PO ALex Fergusson felt the first minister was posing challenges to his Labour opponent - instead of the other way round.
In classic fashion, Mr Salmond deployed the extra exchange to launch the sharpest attack of all.
Mr Gray's questions concerned the issue of the FM paying council tax upon .
It started well with the Labour leader reminding the chamber of a previous SNP attack upon erstwhile FMs for failing to stump up council tax on the Adam-designed mansion, conveyed to the National Trust by the Marquess of Bute.
Public debate
Why hadn't the SNP kept its promise? Alex Salmond then read out a substantial list of reasons laid down by officials - and noted the Scottish government paid 10 times more in business rates.
Mr Gray then diverted into other issues: London expenses for the FM and a repeated challenge to a public debate.
During the latter exchange, Mr Gray gestured with his arms in a fashion which seemed to say: "Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough."
Or, in demotic parlance, "OK, pal, ootside".
It was vigorous stuff - but Mr Salmond seemed notably unflustered. Quite the reverse, in fact.
Then came that fifth question.
I'm 
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