Gauge what?

Here’s another one from the indefatigable Shree Mani Shankar Aiyar, Honourable Member of Parliament. When the Lok Pal debate reached the Rajya Sabha and indications that the House would sit till late night — possibly even after 12 midnight — were strong, Aiyar was heard observing rather gloomily, viz a thought process all his own, “Well, look at the brighter side: Thank God, we’re all men in there. Otherwise, we’d all have turned into pumpkins.”

What?