After fidgeting their way through six days of opening arguments in the impeachment trial of President Trump, rank-and-file senators were at last allowed to participate, as Wednesday kicked off up to 16 hours of question-and-answer time spread over two days.

Roughly speaking, this was the impeachment version of a cross-examination, minus the drama and edge of a regular trial. Impeachment Q. & A.s are designed to avoid direct confrontation. Senators submit questions for counsel in writing, on small tan cards that are handed to Chief Justice John Roberts to read aloud. The only time the senators speak is when informing the chief justice that they’re “sending a question to the desk.”

As such, Wednesday’s proceedings must have been frustrating for lawmakers. On the one hand, they were getting to ask questions. On the other, they weren’t allowed to pose the questions themselves, thus eliminating the opportunity for showboating. This is a little like forbidding your dog to bark at squirrels. It goes against the laws of nature.

The chief justice, by contrast, was at last getting to do something other than gavel the sessions open and closed and try not to hoot at some of the outlandish legal arguments that have been floated this past week. Back and forth he went with the questions — serving up one from the Republicans, then one from the Democrats — round after round.