e seated.

"That's rather a large subject even for a slow dinner."

"I mean about the row in the Democratic organization over the nomination
for governor?"

"The papers seem to know more about it than I do," said Peter calmly.

Le Grand laughed. "Miss De Voe, Ogden, Rivington--all of us, have tried
to get Peter, first and last, to talk politics, but not a fact do we
get. They say it's his ability to hold his tongue which made Costell
trust him and push him, and that that was the reason he was chosen to
fill Costells place."

"_I_ don't fill his place," said Peter. "No one can do that. I merely
succeeded him. And Miss D'Alloi will tell you that the papers calling me
'Taciturnity Junior' is a libel. Am I not a talker, Miss D'Alloi?"

"_I_ really can't find out," responded Leonore, with a puzzled look.
"People say you are not."

"I didn't think you would fail me after the other night."

"Ah," said madame. "The quiet men are the great men. Look at the
French."

"Oh, madame!" exclaimed Leonore.

"You are joking" cried Mrs. D'Alloi.

"That's delicious," laughed Watts.

"Whew," said Le Grand, under his breath.

"Ah! Why do you cry out? Mr. Stirling, am I not right?" Madame appealed
to the one face on which no amusement or skepticism was shown.

"I think it is rather dangerous to ascribe any particular trait to any
nationality. It is usually misleading. But most men who think much, talk
little, and the French have many thinkers"

"I always liked Von Moltke, just for it being said of him that he could
be silent in seven languages," said Le Grand.

"Yes," said Leonore. "It's so restful. We crossed on the steamer with a
French Marquis who can speak six languages, and can't say one thing
worth listening to in any."

Peter thought the soup all Jenifer had cracked it up to be.

"Peter," said Leonore, turning to him, "Mr. Le Grand said that you never
will talk politics with anybody. That doesn't include me, of course?"

"No," said Peter promptly.

"I thought it didn't," said Leonore, her eyes dancing with pleasure,
however, at the reply. "We had Mr. Pell to lunch to-day and I spoke to
him as to what you said about the bosses, and he told me that bosses
could never be really good, unless the better element were allowed to
vote, and not the saloon-keepers and roughs. I could see he was right,
at once."

"From his point of view. Or rather the view of his class."

"Don't you think so?"

"No."

"Why not?"