ed sitting where she was in a fearful fascination, awaiting
Humphrey Crewe's answer. There was a moment's pause.

"I believe you made the remark, Mr. Tooting," he said, "that in your
opinion there is enough anti-railroad sentiment in the House to pass any
bill which the railroad opposes."

"If a leader was to get up there, like you, with the arguments I
could put into his hands, they would make the committee discharge that
Pingsquit bill of the Gaylords', and pass it."

"On what do you base your opinion?" asked Mr. Crewe.

"Well," said Mr. Tooting, "I guess I'm a pretty shrewd observer and have
had practice enough. But you know Austen Vane, don't you?"

Victoria held her breath.

"I've a slight acquaintance with him," replied Mr. Crewe; "I've
helped him along in one or two minor legal matters. He seems to be a
little--well, pushing, you might say."

"I want to tell you one thing about Austen," continued Mr. Tooting.
"Although I don't stand much for old Hilary, I'd take Austen Vane's
opinion on most things as soon as that of any man in the State. If
he only had some sense about himself, he could be governor next
time--there's a whole lot that wants him. I happen to know some of 'em
offered it to him last night."

"Austen Vane governor!" exclaimed Mr. Crewe, with a politely deprecating
laugh.

"It may sound funny," said Mr. Tooting, stoutly; "I never understood
what he has about him. He's never done anything but buck old Hilary in
that damage case and send back a retainer pass to old Flint, but he's
got something in his make-up that gets under your belt, and a good many
of these old hayseeds'll eat out of his hand, right now. Well, I don't
want this to go any farther, you're a gentleman,--but Austen came down
here yesterday and had the whole thing sized up by last night. Old
Hilary thought the Gaylords sent for him to lobby their bill through.
They may have sent for him, all right, but he wouldn't lobby for 'em. He
could have made a pile of money out of 'em. Austen doesn't seem to care
about money--he's queer. He says as long as he has a horse and a few
books and a couple of sandwiches a day he's all right. Hilary had him
up in Number Seven tryin' to find out what he came down for, and Austen
told him pretty straight--what he didn't tell the Gaylords, either. He
kind of likes old Hilary,--because he's his father, I guess,--and he
said there were enough men in that House to turn Hilary and his crowd
upside down.