came the poor little chap, whom Peter
had libelled in age and affections, only ten minutes before, and set
Peter free. He turned to see how Leonore's petard was progressing, to
find her and Pell deep in tennis. But just as he was going to expose his
ignorance on that game, Leonore said:

"Mr. Pell, what do you think of the political outlook?"

Pell sighed internally, "You can read it in the papers," he said.

"No. I want your opinion. Especially about the great departure the
Democratic Convention is going to make."

"You mean in endorsing Maguire?"

Leonore began to visibly swell in importance. "Of course not," she said,
contemptuously. "Every one knows that that was decided against at the
Manhattan dinner. I mean the unusual resolution about the next senator."

Pell ceased to sigh. "I don't know what you mean?" he said.

"Not really?" said Leonore incredulously, her nose cocking a little more
airily. "I thought of course you would know about it. I'm so surprised!"

Pell looked at her half quizzingly, and half questioningly. "What is the
resolution?"

"Naming a candidate for the vacancy for the Senate."

"Nonsense," said Pell, laughing. "The convention has nothing to do with
the senators. The Legislature elects them." He thought, "Why can't
women, if they will talk politics, at least learn the ABC."

"Yes," said Leonore, "but this is a new idea. The Senate has behaved so
badly, that the party leaders think it will be better to make it a more
popular body by having the New York convention nominate a man, and then
they intend to make the legislature elect him. If the other states will
only follow New York's lead, it may make the Senate respectable and open
to public opinion."

Pell sniffed obviously. "In what fool paper did you read that?"

"I didn't read it," said Leonore, her eyes dancing with delight. "The
papers are always behind the times. But I didn't think that you would
be, since you are to be named in the resolution."

Pell looked at her blankly. "What do you mean?"

"Didn't you know that the Convention will pass a resolution, naming you
for next senator?" said Leonore, with both wonder and pity in her face
and voice.

"Who told you that?" said Pell, with an amount of interest blended with
doubt that was a decided contrast to a moment ago.

"That's telling," said Leonore. "You know, Mr. Pell, that one mustn't
tell people who are outside the party councils everything."

"I believe you are tryi