mix with inferior men--so they keep aloof from public affairs. Good
Heavens! what gentleman would be guilty of being an alderman in this
town! Why, as you know, my dear Belch, nothing but my reduced
circumstances induces me to go to Congress. By-the-by--"

"Well, what is it?" asked the General.

"I'm dreadfully hard up," said Abel. "I have just the d----est luck you
ever conceived, and I must raise some money."

The fat nose glistened again, while the General sat silently pondering.

"I can lend you a thousand," he said, at length.

"Thank you. It will oblige me very much."

"Upon conditions," added the General.

"Conditions?" asked Abel, surprised.

"I mean understandings," said the General.

"Oh! certainly," answered Abel.

"You pledge yourself to me and our friends that you will at the earliest
moment move in the matter of the Grant; you engage to secure the votes
somehow, relying upon the pecuniary aid of our friends who are
interested; and you will repay me out of your first receipts. Ele will
stand by you through thick and thin. We keep him there for that purpose."

"My dear Belch, I promise any thing you require. I only want the money."

"Give me your hand, Newt. From the bottom of my soul I do respect a man
who has no scruples."

They shook hands heartily, and filling their glasses they drank
"Success!" The General then wrote a check and a little series of
instructions, which he gave to Abel, while Abel himself scribbled an
I.O.U., which the General laid in his pocket-book.

"You'll have an eye on, Ele," said the General, as he buttoned his coat.

"Certainly--two if you want," answered Abel, lazily, repeating the joke.

"He's a good fellow, Ele is," said Belch; "but he's largely interested,
and he'll probably try to chouse us out of something by affecting
superior influence. You must patronize him to the other men. Keep him
well under. I have a high respect for cellar stairs, but they mustn't
try to lead up to the roof. Good-by. Hail Newt! Senator that shall be!"
laughed the General, as he shook hands and followed his fat nose out
of the door.

Left to himself, Abel walked for some time up and down his room, with
his hands buried in his pocket and a sneering smile upon his face. He
suddenly drew one hand out, raised it, clenched it, and brought it down
heavily in the air, as he muttered, contemptuously,

"What a stupid fool! I wonder if he never thinks, as he looks in the
glass, that that f