n, rising.
"Good night, Mr. Gannette. We will expect you Wednesday evening, and
we trust that we will not have to accept your excuses again."

Gannette was led soddenly out. The Beaubien quietly resumed her seat.
It was the second time the man had been dismissed from her table, and
the guests marveled that it did not mean the final loss of her favor.
But she remained inscrutable; and the conversation quickly drifted
into new channels. A few moments later William returned and made a
quiet announcement:

"Mr. Ames."

A huge presence emerged from the darkness into the light. The Beaubien
immediately rose and advanced to greet the newcomer. "What is it?" she
whispered, taking his hand.

The man smiled down into her upturned, anxious face. His only reply
was a reassuring pressure of her hand. But she comprehended, and her
face brightened.

"Gentlemen," remarked Ames, taking the vacant chair, "the President's
message is out. I have been going over it with Hood--which accounts
for my tardiness," he added, nodding pleasantly to the Beaubien.
"Quoting from our chief executive's long list of innocent platitudes,
I may say that 'private monopoly is criminally unjust, wholly
indefensible, and not to be tolerated in a Republic founded upon the
premise of equal rights to all mankind.'"

"Certainly not!" concurred Weston, holding up his glass and gazing
admiringly at the rich color of the wine.

The others laughed. "Quite my sentiments, too," murmured Fitch,
rolling his eyes upward and attempting with poor success to assume a
beatific expression.

"Furthermore," continued Ames, with mock gravity, "the interlocking of
corporation directorates must be prohibited by law; power must be
conferred upon the Interstate Commerce Commission to superintend the
financial management of railroads; holding-companies must cease to
exist; and corrective policies must be shaped, whereby so-called
'trusts' will be regulated and rendered innocuous. Are we agreed?"

"We are," said they all, in one voice.

"Carried," concluded Ames in a solemn tone. Then a burst of laughter
rose from the table; and even the inscrutable William smiled behind
his hand.

"But, seriously," said Weston, when the laughter had ceased, "I
believe we've got a President now who's going to do something, don't
you?"

"I do not," replied Ames emphatically. "As long as the human mind
remains as it is there is nothing to fear, though Congress legislate
itself blue in th