m, I made no secret of that
intention. But he should not have been nominated by a city delegate, for
he is not the choice of New York City, and any attempt to show that he
is, or that he has any true backing there, is only an attempt to
deceive. In seconding his nomination therefore, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that both his nomination and seconding are
personal acts, and in no sense the act of the delegates of the city of
New York."

There was a mingling of hoots and cheers as Peter sat down, though
neither was very strong. In truth, the larger part of the delegates were
very much in the dark as to the tendency of Peter's speech. "Was it
friendly or unfriendly to Porter?" they wondered.

"Mr. Maguire," said the chairman.

"Mr. Chairman, the gentleman who has just sat down is to be complimented
on his speech. In my whole life I have never heard so deceptive and
blinding a narration. We know of Brutus stabbing his friend. But what
shall we say of a pretended Brutus who caresses while he stabs?"

Here the Porter adherents became absolutely sure of the character of
Peter's speech, and hissed.

"Nor is it Imperial Caesar alone," continued Maguire, "against whom he
turns his poniard. Not content with one foul murder, he turns against
Caesar's friends. By devilish innuendo, he charges the honorable Mr.
Kennedy and myself with bargaining to deceive the American people. I
call on him for proof or retraction."

The convention laughed. Peter rose and said: "Mr. Chairman, I gave a
truthful account of what actually took place last evening in the United
States hotel. I made no charges."

"But you left the impression that Mr. Kennedy and I had made a deal,"
shrieked Maguire.

"If the gentleman draws that conclusion from what passed, it is not my
fault."

The convention laughed. "Do you mean to charge such a bargain?" angrily
shouted Maguire.

"Will you deny it?" asked Peter calmly.

"Then you do charge it?"

Here the convention laughed for the third time. Green shouted "deny it,"
and the cry was taken up by many of the delegates.

"Yes," screamed Maguire. "I do deny it"

Peter turned to Kennedy. "Do you too, deny it?"

"Yes," shouted Kennedy, loudly.

Again the convention laughed.

"Then," said Peter, "if I had charged you with a bargain, I should now
find it necessary to apologize."

The convention roared. Maguire screamed something, but it could not be
heard. The tenor of his remarks was indicated