Downing Street maintained a defiant mood yesterday after British prime minister Tony Blair suffered the acute embarrassment of being questioned inside Number 10 by detectives investigating the "cash-for-honours" affair.
But it was a low day for Mr Blair, who assumed office with the promise that his government would be "whiter than white" and is now thought to be the first serving British prime minister to be interviewed by police as part of a major criminal inquiry.
The relief was that Mr Blair's long-awaited interview with Scotland Yard was not conducted under caution.
This encouraged the widespread view that he is not regarded as a potential suspect and is unlikely to face any charge. The political reality, however, was that - for all that yesterday's interview had long been foretold - this was another damaging blow to Mr Blair's reputation and that of his government.
"Were you sweating, Mr Blair?" called one journalist later, as the prime minister left Downing Street for an EU summit in Brussels that will be followed by a Middle East peace drive next week.
"Prime minister, are you a suspect?" demanded another, while Mr Blair maintained his fixed smile and climbed into his awaiting car.
In the midst of such indignities, Number 10 was also forced to deny that yesterday's police interview was another "New Labour" attempt to "bury" bad news and deliberately timed to coincide with the publication of Lord Stevens's high-profile report on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Downing Street insisted that Mr Blair's official spokesman only became aware at 1.10pm that the interview had taken place - 20 minutes before he briefed journalists about the interview, which lasted under two hours, and which Mr Blair attended without the benefit of a legal adviser.
The police inquiry was originally sparked by the disclosure that Labour - like the Conservatives - had raised millions of pounds in secret loans to finance its 2005 general election campaign. Four Labour donors subsequently had their nominations for the House of Lords blocked.
Mr Blair's spokesman said: "The prime minister explained why he nominated each of the individuals, and he did so as party leader in respect of the peerages reserved for party supporters as other party leaders do."