But for the most part, the exchanges on stage were even-tempered.

But zookeepers would then find the rugged exterior hid a “sweet disposition” in the even-tempered giant.

Long gone are the extravagancies of Granit Xhaka, in exchange for a far more acceptable and even-tempered Rice, who is a far better footballer anyway.

Eames, a low-key, even-tempered fellow, almost shrugged off the eye-popping numbers.

His appointment as foreign minister last December was seen by some as a sign that Beijing was dialling down its aggressive image by sending more even-tempered figures to the frontlines of its diplomatic corps.