om
Hungary is also here. The country is wild over Kossuth. We'll
have to accept this invitation to invite him! But Austria remains
bitter against the countess. What we must do is to have her go
back home with these commissioners from Hungary. There's ugly talk
about the way she's been used. That fellow Carlisle--good riddance
of him from the army--even confessed he engaged in a game of
cards--" their heads bent together--"in short, the devil is to pay
with the administration if this gets out. We can't banish her
again. But how can we with dignity even it with her, so she will
make no talk? If she likes, she can ruin us, because Carlisle
can't be kept silent, now he's out of the army. And he's crazy
over her, anyhow."

"So? I do not blame him."

"Yes. Therefore, since all of us have lacked wisdom in our own
camp, we'd e'en do well to take wisdom where we can find it."

They parted, the last speaker presently to hail the nearest
carriage. The driver a few moments later drew up at the front of a
spacious and dignified brick building, whose reserved look might
have pronounced it a private hotel or a club for gentlemen. The
visitor seemed known, the door swinging open for him.

[Illustration: They parted, the last speaker hailing a carriage.]

"Louis," said he to the attendant, "is Mr. ---- in?" He mentioned a
name which even then was well known in Washington.

"I think you will find him in the reading-room, Sir," was the
answer.

The inquirer passed to the right, entering a wide room with tables,
books, heavy chairs, discreetly shaded lamps. At one table, drawn
close to the light and poring over a printed page, sat a gentleman
whose personality was not without distinction. The gray hair
brushed back from a heightening forehead might have proclaimed him
even beyond middle age, and his stature, of about medium height,
acknowledged easy living in its generous habit. The stock and
cravat of an earlier day gave a certain austerity to the shrewd
face, lighted by a pair of keen gray eyes, which now turned to
greet the new-comer. He rose, and both bowed formally before they
advanced to take each other by the hand. They were acquaintances,
if not intimate friends. Evidently this particular club no more
enlisted its members from this or that political party than did
either of the leading parties call upon any certain section for
their membership.

"I am fortunate to find you here in Washington, my dear