\"We\'llhavetoattendtohim,rightoff,\"hesaid.
Iwassurprisedtofindmyselfresentingtheimputation,anddeeply.
\"I\'mafraidhe\'soneofthosewhocan\'tbe`attendedto,\'\"Ianswered.
\"Youmeanthathe\'sintheemployoftheRibblevalepeople?\"theColonelinquired.
\"Idon\'tmeananythingofthekind,\"Iretorted,withmoreheat,perhaps,thanIrealized.TheColonellookedatmequeerly.
\"That\'sallright,Mr.Paret.OfcourseIdon\'twanttoquestionyourjudgment,sir.Andyousayhe\'safriendofyours.\"
\"IsaidIknewhimatcollege.\"
\"Butyouwillpardonme,\"theColonelwenton,\"whenItellyouthatI\'vehadsomeexperiencewiththatbreed,andIhaveyettoseeoneof\'emyoucouldn\'tcometotermswithinsomeway——insomeway,\"headded,significantly.IdidnotpausetoreflectthattheColonel\'sattitude,fromhispointofview(yes,andfrommine,——hadInotadoptedit?)wasthelogicalone.Inthatphilosophyeverymanhadhisprice,orhisweakness.Yet,suchistheinconsistencyofhumannature,Iwasnowunabletocontemplatethisattitudewithcalmness.
\"Mr.Krebsisalawyer.HasheacceptedapassfromtheRailroad?\"I
demanded,knowingthecustomofthatcorporationofconferringthisdelicatefavouronthepromisingyoungtalentinmyprofession.
\"Ireckonhe\'sneverhadthechance,\"saidMr.Varney.
\"Well,hashetakenapassasamemberofthelegislature?\"
\"No,——Irememberlookingthatupwhenhefirstcamedown.Sentthatback,ifIrecallthemattercorrectly.\"ColonelVarneywenttoadeskinthecorneroftheroom,unlockedit,drewforthablackbook,andrunninghisfingersthroughthepagesstoppedattheletterK.\"Yes,sentbackhislegislativepass,butI\'veknown\'emtodothatwhentheywereholdingoutforsomethingmore.Theremustbesomebodywhocangetclosetohim.\"
TheColonelruminatedawhile.Thenhestrodetothedoorandcalledouttothegroupofmenwhowerealwayslounginginthehall.
\"TellAlfYoungIwanttoseehim,Fred.\"
Iwaited,bynomeansfreefromuneasinessandanxiety,fromacertainlackofself-respectthatwasunfamiliar.Mr.Young,theColonelexplained,wasalegallightinGalesburg,nearElkington,——theRailroadlawyerthere.AndwhenatlastMr.Youngappearedheprovedtobeanoilygentlemanofaboutforty,incliningtostoutness,withoneofthose\"blue,\"shavenfaces.
\"Wantme,Colonel?\"heinquiredblithely,whenthedoorhadclosedbehindhim;andaddedobsequiously,whenintroducedtome,\"Gladtomeetyou,Mr.Paret.MyregardstoMr.Watling,whenyougoback.
\"Alf,\"demandedtheColonel,\"whatdoyouknowofthisfellowKrebs?\"
Mr.Younglaughed.Krebswas\"nutty,\"hedeclared——thatwasalltherewastoit.
\"Won\'the——listentoreason?\"
\"It\'sbeentried,Colonel.Say,hewouldn\'tknowahundred-dollarbillifyoushowedhimone.\"
\"Whatdoeshewant?\"
\"Oh,something,——that\'ssure,theyallwantsomething.\"Mr.Youngshruggedhisshoulderexpressively,andbyaskillfulmanipulationofhislipsshiftedhiscigarfromonesideofhismouthtotheotherwithoutraisinghishands.\"Butitain\'tmoney.Iguesshe\'sgotanotionthatlateronthelabourunions\'llsendhimtotheUnitedStatesSenatesomeday.He\'snoslouch,either,whenitcomestolaw.Icantellyouthat.\"
\"No——noflawinhis——record?\"ColonelVarney\'sagateeyessoughtthoseofMr.Young,meaningly.
\"That\'sbeentried,too,\"declaredtheGalesburgattorney.\"Say,youcanbelieveitornot,butwe\'veneverduganythingupsofar.He\'sbeentooslickforus,Iguess.\"
\"Well,\"exclaimedtheColonel,atlength,\"lethimsquealandbed——d!
Hecan\'tdoanymorethanmakeanoise.OnlyIhopedwe\'dbeabletogreasethisthingalongandslideitthroughtheSenatethisafternoon,beforetheygotwindofit.\"
\"He\'llsqueal,allright,untilyousmotherhim,\"Mr.Youngobserved.
\"We\'llsmotherhimsomeday!\"repliedtheColonel,savagely.
Mr.Younglaughed.
ButasImademywaytowardtheStateHouseIwasconsciousofafeelingofrelief.IhadnosoonergainedafrontseatinthegalleryoftheHouseofRepresentativeswhenthemembersrose,theSenatemarchedgravelyin,theSpeakerstoppedjestingwiththeChaplain,andovertheChaplain\'sfacecamesuddenlyanagonizedexpression.FoldinghishandsacrosshisstomachhebegantocallonGodwithterrificfervour,inanintenseandresoundingvoice.Iwasstrucksuddenlybytheironyofitall.WhyhavealegislaturewhenColonelPaulVarneywassoefficient!
Thelegislaturewasameresoptodemocraticprejudice,toprayoveritheightenedthetravesty.SupposetherewereaGodafterall?notnecessarilythemagnifiedmonarchtowhomthesepseudo-democratsprayed,butanIntelligentForcethatmakesforrighteousness.HowdidHe,orIt,liketobetrifledwithinthisway?And,ifHeexisted,wouldnotHisdisgustbeimmeasurableasHecontemplatedthatunctuousfigureinthe\"PrinceAlbert\"coat,whopretendedtorepresentHim?
AstheroutinebusinessbeganIsearchedforKrebs,tofindhimpresentlyatadeskbesideawindowintherearofthehallmakingnotesonapaper;therewas,confessedly,littlesatisfactioninthethoughtthatthemanwhosegauntfeaturesIcontemplatedwasmerelyoneofthoseimpracticalidealistswhobeatthemselvestopiecesagainsttheforcesthatswaytheworldandmustforeverswayit.IshouldbecompelledtoadmitthatherepresentedsomethinguniqueinthatassemblyifhehadthecouragetogetupandopposeHouseBill709.Iwatchedhimnarrowly;thesuggestionintrudeditself——perhapshehadbeen\"seen,\"astheColonelexpressedit.Irepudiatedit.Igrewimpatient,feverish;themonotonousreadingoftheclerkwasinterruptednowandthenbythesharptonesoftheSpeakerassigninghisvariousmeasurestothisorthatcommittee,\"unlessobjectionisoffered,\"whilethemembersmovedaboutandmurmuredamongthemselves;Krebshadstoppedmakingnotes;hewaslookingoutofthewindow.Atlast,withoutanychangeofemphasisinhisdroningvoice,theclerkannouncedtherecommendationoftheCommitteeonJudiciarythatHouseBill709oughttopass.
Downinfrontamanhadrisenfromhisseat——thefelicitousMr.
Truesdale.Glancingaroundathisfellow-membershethenbegantoexplainintheimpressivebutconversationaltoneofonewhosecounselsareinthehabitofbeinglistenedto,thatthiswasmerelyalittlemeasuretoremedyaflawinthestatutes.Mr.Truesdalebelievedincorporationswhencorporationsweregood,andthisbillwascalculatedtomakethemgood,toputanendtojuggleryandconcealment.Ourgreatstate,hesaid,shouldbeintheforefrontofsuchwiselegislation,whichmadeforjusticeandaproperpublicity;butthebillinquestionwasofgreaterinteresttolawyersthantolaymen,acommitteecomposedlargelyoflawyershadrecommendeditunanimously,andhewassurethatnooppositionwoulddevelopintheHouse.Inordernottotakeuptheirtimeheasked:therefore,thatitbeimmediatelyputonitssecondandthirdreadingandallowedtopass.
Hesatdown,andIlookedatKrebs.Couldhe,couldanyman,anylawyer,havethepresumptiontoquestionsuchanobviouslydesirablemeasure,toarraigntheunitedjudgmentofthecommittee\'slegaltalent?SuchwasthenoteMr.Truesdalesoadmirablystruck.Asthoughfascinated,I
continuedtogazeatKrebs.Ihatedhim,Idesiredtoseehimhumiliated,andyetamazinglyIfoundmyselfwishingwithalmostequalvehemencethathewouldbetruetohimself.Hewasrising,——slowly,timidly,Ithought,hishandclutchinghisdesklid,hisvoicesoundingwhollyinadequateasheaddressedtheSpeaker.TheSpeakerhesitated,histonepalpablysupercilious.
\"Thegentlemanfrom——fromElkington,Mr.Krebs.\"
Therewasacraningofnecks,astaring,atittering.IburnedwithvicariousshameasKrebsstoodthereawkwardly,hishandstillholdingthedesk.Therewerecriesof\"louder\"whenhebegan;somepickeduptheirnewspapers,whileothersstartedconversations.TheSpeakerrappedwithhisgavel,andIfailedtoheartheopeningwords.Krebspaused,andbeganagain.Hisspeechdidnot,atfirst,floweasily.
\"Mr.Speaker,Irisetoprotestagainstthisbill,whichinmyopinionisnotsoinnocentasthegentlemanfromSt.Helen\'swouldhavetheHousebelieve.Itisonapar,indeed,withotherlegislationthatinpastyearshasbeenengineeredthroughthislegislatureundertheguiseofbeneficentlaw.No,notonapar.Itisthemostarrogant,themostmonstrousexampleofspeciallegislationofthemall.AndwhileIdonotexpecttobeabletodelayitspassagemuchlongerthanthetimeIshallbeonmyfeet——\"
\"Thenwhynotsitdown?\"cameavoice,justaudible.
Asheturnedswiftlytowardtheoffenderhisprofilehadaneagle-likeeffectthatstartledme,seeminglyrealizinganewqualityintheman.
Itwasasthoughhehadneededjustthestimulusofthatinterruptiontoelectrifyandtransformhim.Hisawkwardnessdisappeared;andifhewasalittlebombastic,alittle\"young,\"hespokewiththefireofconviction.
\"Because,\"hecried,\"becauseIshouldlosemyself-respectforlifeifI
sathereandpermittedthepoliticalorganizationofarailroad,themembersofwhicharehereundertheguiseofservantsofthepeople,tocowmeintosilence.AndifitbetreasontomentionthenameofthatRailroadinconnectionwithitspoliticaltyranny,thenmakethemostofit.\"Heletgoofthedesk,andtappedthecopyofthebill.\"Whatarethefacts?TheBoyneIronWorks,underthepresidencyofAdolfScherer,hasbeenengagedinlitigationwiththeRibblevaleSteelCompanyforsomeyears:andthisbillisintendedtoputintothehandsoftheattorneysforMr.Scherercertaininformationthatwillenablehimtogetpossessionoftheproperty.Gentlemen,thatiswhat`legalpractice\'hasdescendedtointhehandsofrespectablelawyers.ThisdeviceoriginatedwiththeresourcefulMr.TheodoreWatling,andifithadnothadtheapprovalofMr.MillerGorse,itwouldneverhavegotanyfartherthanthejudiciarycommittee.ItwasconfidedtotheskillfulcareofColonelPaulVarneytobesteeredthroughthislegislature,ashundredsofothermeasureshavebeensteeredthrough,——withoutunnecessarynoise.ItmaybeaskedwhytheRailroadshouldbotheritselfbylendingitspoliticalorganizationtoprivatecorporations?Iwilltellyou.BecausecorporationsliketheBoynecorporationareapartofanetworkofinterests,thesecorporationsaidtheRailroadtomaintainitsmonopoly,andinreturnreceiverebates.\"
Krebshadraisedhisvoiceasthemurmursbecamelouder.Atthispointasharp-facedlawyerfromBelfastgottohisfeetandobjectedthatthegentlemanfromElkingtonwaswastingthetimeoftheHouse,indulginginhearsay.Hisremarkswerenotgermane,etc.TheSpeakerrappedagain,withafineshowofimpartiality,andcautionedthememberfromElkington.
\"Verywell,\"repliedKrebs.\"IhavesaidwhatIwantedtosayonthatscore,andIknowittobethetruth.AndifthisHousedoesnotfinditgermane,thedayiscomingwhenitsconstituentswill.\"
Whereuponheenteredintoadiscussionofthebill,dissectingitwithmorecalmness,withanabilitythatmusthavecommanded,evenfromsomehostileminds,anunwillingrespect.Thepenalty,hesaid,wasoutrageous,hithertounheardofinlaw,——puttingacorporationinthehandsofareceiver,atthemercyofthosewhocovetedit,becauseoneofitsofficersrefused,orwasunable,totestify.HemightbeinChina,inTimbuctoowhenthesummonswasdeliveredathislastorusualplaceofabode.Herewasanenormity,anexerciseoftyrannicalpowerexceedingallbounds,atravestyonpopulargovernmentHeendedbypointingoutthesignificanceofthefactthatthecommitteehadgivennohearings;bydeclaringthatifthebillbecamealaw,itwouldinevitablyreactupontheheadsofthosewhowereresponsibleforit.
Hesatdown,andtherewasaflutterofapplausefromthescatteredaudienceinthegallery.
\"ByGod,that\'stheonlymaninthewholeplace!\"
Iwasaware,forthefirsttime,ofaneighbouratmyside,——asolid,red-facedman,evidentlyafarmer.Histrousersweretuckedintohisboots,andhisgnarledandpowerfulhands,ingrainedwithdirt,clutchedthearmsoftheseatasheleanedforward.
\"Didn\'thejustnaturallylambaste\'em?\"hecriedexcitedly.\"They\'lldownhim,Iguess,——butsay,he\'sright.Amanwouldlosehisself-
respectifhedidn\'tletouthismindatthemhossthieves,wouldn\'the?
What\'sthatfellow\'sname?\"
Itoldhim.
\"Krebs,\"herepeated.\"Iwanttorememberthat.DurnedifIdon\'tshakehandswithhim.\"
Hisexcitementastonishedme.Wouldthepublicfeellikethat,iftheyonlyknew?TheSpeaker\'sgavelhadcomedownlikeapistolshot.
One\"war-hoss\"——asmyneighbourcalledthem——afteranotherproceededtocrushthememberfromElkington.Itwas,indeed,veryskillfullydone,andyetitwasaprocessfromwhichIdidnotderive,somehow,muchpleasure.ColonelVarney\'sarmyhadbeenmagnificentlytrainedtomeetjustthiskindofsituation:someemployedridicule,othersdeclared,inimpassionedtones,thatthegoodnameoftheirstatehadbeenwantonlyassailed,andpointedferventlytoportraitsonthewallsofpatriotsofthepast,——sentimentsthatdrewapplausefromtheficklegallery.Onegentlemanobservedthattheobsessionofa\"railroadmachine\"wasasuresymptomofacertainkindofinsanity,ofwhichthefirstspeakerhadgivenmanyotherevidences.Thefarmeratmysideremainedstaunch.
\"Theycan\'tfoolme,\"hesaidangrily,\"Iknow\'em.Doyouseethatfellowgettin\'uptotalknow?Well,Icouldtellyouafewthingsabouthim,allright.HecomesfromGlasgow,andhisname\'sLetchworth.He\'sdonemoreharminhislifethanallthecriminalshe\'skeptoutofprison,——belongstooneoftheoldfamiliesdownthere,too.\"
Ihad,indeed,remarkedLetchworth\'sface,whichseemedtomepeculiarlyevil,itslividityenhancedbyashockofgreyhair.Hismethodwaswitheringsarcasm,andhewasclearlyunabletocontrolhisanimus
NochampionappearedtosupportKrebs,whosatpaleandtensewhilethisdenunciationofhimwasgoingon.Finallyhegotthefloor.Hisvoicetrembledalittle,whetherwithpassion,excitement,ornervousnessitwasimpossibletosay.Buthecontentedhimselfwithabriefdefiance.
Ifthebillpassed,hedeclared,themenwhovotedforit,themenwhowerebehindit,wouldultimatelybedrivenfrompoliticallifebyanindignantpublic.Hehadahigheropinionofthevotersofthestatethanthosewhoaccusedhimofslanderingit,thanthosewhosatsilentandhadnotliftedtheirvoicesagainstthiscrime.
Whenthebillwasputtoavotehedemandedarollcall.
TenmembersbesideshimselfwererecordedagainstHouseBillNo.709!
InspiteofthisoverwhelmingtriumphmyfeelingswerenotwhollythoseofsatisfactionwhenIreturnedtothehotelandlistenedtotheexultationsanddenunciationsofsuchpoliticiansasLetchworth,Young,andColonelVarney.PerhapsanimagesuggestingHermannKrebsassomesplendidanimalatbay,draggeddownbythehounds,istoostrong:hehadbeeningloriouslycrushed,anddefeat,evenforthesakeofconviction,wasnotaninspiringspectacleAsthechasesweptonoverhisprostratefigureIrapidlyregainedpoiseandasenseofproportion;a\"masteroflife\"couldnotpermithimselftobetossedaboutbysentimentality;andgraduallyIgrewashamedofmybadquarterofanhourinthegalleryoftheHouse,andoftheeffectofit——whichlingeredawhile——asofaweaknesssuddenlyrevealed,whichmustatallcostsbeovercome.IbegantoseesomethingdramaticandsensationalinKrebs\'sperformance
TheRibblevaleSteelCompanywastherealquarry,afterall.Andsuchhadbeentheexpedition,theskillandsecrecy,withwhichouraffairwasconducted,thatbeforetheRibblevalelawyerscouldarrive,alarmedandbreathless,thebillhadpassedtheHouse,andtheironlyrealchanceofhaltingithadbeenlost.FortheRailroadcontrolledtheHouse,notbyowningtheindividualscomposingit,butthroughtheleaderswhodominatedit,——menlikeLetchworthandTruesdale.These,andColonelVarney,hadseentoitthatmenwhohadanyparliamentaryabilityhadbeenattendedto;allsaveKrebs,whohadprovedasurprise.Therewereindeedcertainmemberswho,althoughtheyhadrailroadpassesintheirpockets(whichwereregardedasjustperquisites,——theRailroadbeingsorich!),wouldhaveopposedthebilliftheyhadfeltsufficientlysureofthemselvestocopewithsuchveteransasLetchworth.ManyofthesehadallowedthemselvestobewonoverorcowedbytheoratorywhichhadcrushedKrebs.
NordidtheRibblevalepeople——beitrecorded——scrupletofightfirewithfire.Theirexistence,ofcourse,wasatstake,andtherewasnopublictoappealto.Apartofthelegalarmythatrushedtotheaidofouradversariesspenttheafternoonandmostofthenightorganizingallthosewhocouldbeinducedbyonemeansoranothertoreversetheirsentiments,andinsearchingforthefewwhohadgrievancesagainsttheexistingpower.Thefollowingmorningamotionwasintroducedtoreconsider;andinthedebatethatfollowed,Krebs,stilldefiant,tookanactivepart.Buttheresolutionrequiredatwo-thirdsvote,andwaslost.
WhenthebattlewasshiftedtotheSenateitwasasgoodaslost.TheJudiciaryCommitteeoftheaugustbodydidindeedcondescendtogivehearings,atwhichtheRibblevalelawyersexhaustedtheirenergyandingenuitywithoutresultwithonlytwodissentingvotesthebillwascalmlypassed.InvainwastheGovernorbesieged,entreated,threatened,——itwassaid;Mr.Truleasehadinformedprotesters——soColonelVarneygleefullyreported——thathehad\"becomefullyconvincedoftheinherentjusticeofthemeasure.\"OnSaturdaymorninghesignedit,anditbecamealaw
ColonelVarney,asheaccompaniedmetothetrain,didnotconcealhisjubilation.
\"PerhapsIoughtnottosayit,Mr.Paret,butitcouldn\'thavebeendoneneater.That\'stheartintheselittleaffairs,toget\'emrunnin\'fast,togetmomentumon\'embeforetheotherpartywakesup,andthenhecan\'tstop\'em.\"Asheshookhandsinfarewellheadded,withmoregravity:
\"We\'llseeeachotheroften,sir,Iguess.MyverybestregardstoMr.
Watling.\"
Needlesstosay,IhadnotconfidedtohimthepartIhadplayedinoriginatingHouseBillNo.709,nowalawofthestate.Butasthetrainrolledonthroughthesunnywinterlandscapeasenseofwell-being,ofimportanceandpowerbegantostealthroughme.Iwasvictoriouslybearinghomemyfirstscalp,——onewhichwasbynomeanstobedespisedItwasnotuntilwereachedRossiter,aboutfiveo\'clock,thatIwasabletogettheeveningnewspapers.SuchwastheperfectionoftheorganizationofwhichImightnowcallmyselfanintegralpartthatthe\"best\"publicationscontainedonlythebarestmention,——andthatinthelegislativenews,——ofthesigningofthebill.IreadwithcomplacencyandevenwithamusementtheflaringheadlinesIhadanticipatedinMr.Lawler\'s\'Pilot.\'
\"TheGovernorSignsIt!\"
\"Speciallegislation,forcedthroughbytheRailroadLobby,whichwilldrivehonestcorporationsfromthisstate.\"
\"RibblevaleSteelCompanytheVictim.\"
Itwascommontalkinthecapital,thearticlewentontosay,thatTheodoreWatlinghimselfhaddrawnupthemeasurePerusingtheeditorialpagemyeyefellonthename,Krebs.Onememberofthelegislatureabovealldeservedthegratitudeofthepeopleofthestate,——
thememberfromElkington.\"Anunknownman,electedinspiteoftheoppositionofthemachine,hehaddaredtoraisehisvoiceagainstthisiniquity,\"etc.,etc.
Wehadwon.Thatwastheessentialthing.Andmylegalexperiencehadtaughtmethatvictorycounts;defeatissoonforgotten.Eventhediscontented,half-bakedandheterogeneouselementfromwhichthePilotgotitscirculationhadshortmemories.
XI.
Thenextmorning,whichwasSunday,IwenttoMr.Watling\'shousein,FillmoreStreet——anewresidenceatthattime,beingadmiredasthederniercriinarchitecture.Ithadamediaevallook,queerdormersinasteeproofofredtiles,leadedwindowsburieddeepinwallsofroughstone.EmergingfromtherecessedvestibuleonalevelwiththestreetweretheWatlingtwins,aglowwithhealth,dressedinidenticalcostumesofblue.Theyhadmadetheirbowtosocietythatwinter.
\"Why,here\'sHugh!\"saidFrances.\"Doesn\'thelookpleasedwithhimself?\"
\"He\'scometotakeustochurch,\"saidJanet.
\"Oh,he\'smuchtooimportant,\"saidFrances.\"He\'smadeakillingofsomesort,——haven\'tyou,Hugh?\"
Irangthebellandstoodwatchingthemastheydeparted,reflectingthatIwasthirty-twoyearsofageandunmarried.Mr.Watling,surroundedwithnewspapersandseatedbeforehislibraryfire,glancedupatmewithawelcomingsmile:howhadIbornethelegislativebaptismoffire?
Such,Iknew,wasitsimplication.
\"Everythingwentthroughaccordingtoschedule,eh?Well,Icongratulateyou,Hugh,\"hesaid.
\"Oh,Ididn\'thavemuchtodowithit,\"Ianswered,smilingbackathim.
\"Ikeptoutofsight.\"
\"That\'sanartinitself.\"
\"Ihadanopportunity,atcloserange,tostudythemethodsofourlawmakers.\"
\"They\'renotparticularlyedifying,\"Mr.Watlingreplied.\"Buttheyseem,unfortunately,tobenecessary.\"
Suchhadbeenmyownthought.
\"WhoisthismanKrebs?\"heinquiredsuddenly.\"Andwhydidn\'tVarneygetholdofhimandmakehimlistentoreason?\"
\"I\'mafraiditwouldn\'thavebeenanyuse,\"Ireplied.\"HewasinmyclassatHarvard.Iknewhim——slightly.Heworkedhiswaythrough,andhadaprettyhardtimeofit.Iimagineitaffectedhisideas.\"
\"Whatishe,aSocialist?\"
\"Somethingofthesort.\"InTheodoreWatling\'svigorous,sanity-exhalingpresenceKrebs\'sactappearedfantastic,ridiculous.\"Hehasqueernotionsaboutanewkindofdemocracywhichhesaysiscoming.Ithinkheisthekindofmanwhowouldbewillingtodieforit.\"
\"What,inthesedays!\"Mr.Watlinglookedatmeincredulously.\"Ifthat\'sso,wemustkeepaneyeonhim,asincerefanaticisagooddealmoredangerousthanareformerwhowantssomething.Therearesuchmen,\"
headded,\"buttheyarerare.HowwastheGovernor,Trulease?\"heaskedsuddenly.\"Tractable?\"
\"Behavedlikealamb,althoughheinsistedupongoingthroughwithhislittlehumbug,\"Isaid.
Mr.Watlinglaughed.\"Theyalwaysdo,\"heobserved,\"andwastealotofvaluabletime.You\'llfindsomelightcigarsinthecorner,Hugh.\"
