r that on the very day Mrs.
Hopkinson and I and you got the President to sign that patent, that very
day one of them d--n fellows turns up from San Francisco or Australia,
having taken his own time to get here,--gets here about half an hour
after the President had signed the patent and sent it over to the
office, finds the right man to introduce him to the President, has a
talk with him, makes him sign an order countermanding its issuance, and
undoes all that has been done in six years in one hour."

"Yes, but Congress is a tribunal that does not revoke its decrees,"
said Gashwiler with a return of his old manner; "at least," he added,
observing an incredulous shrug in the shoulder of his companion, "at
least DURING THE SESSION."

"We shall see," said Wiles, quietly taking his hat.

"We shall see, sir," said the member from Remus with dignity.

CHAPTER XIV

WHAT CULTURE DID FOR IT

There was at this time in the Senate of the United States an eminent and
respected gentleman, scholarly, orderly, honorable, and radical,--the
fit representative of a scholarly, orderly, honorable, and radical
Commonwealth. For many years he had held his trust with conscious
rectitude, and a slight depreciation of other forms of merit; and for
as many years had been as regularly returned to his seat by his
constituency with equally conscious rectitude in themselves and an equal
skepticism regarding others. Removed by his nature beyond the reach of
certain temptations, and by circumstances beyond even the knowledge of
others, his social and political integrity was spotless. An orator and
practical debater, his refined tastes kept him from personality, and the
public recognition of the complete unselfishness of his motives and the
magnitude of his dogmas protected him from scurrility. His principles
had never been appealed to by a bribe; he had rarely been approached by
an emotion.

A man of polished taste in art and literature, and possessing the means
to gratify it, his luxurious home was filled with treasures he
had himself collected, and further enhanced by the stamp of his
appreciation. His library had not only the elegance of adornment that
his wealth could bring and his taste approve, but a certain refined
negligence of habitual use, and the easy disorder of the artist's
workshop. All this was quickly noted by a young girl who stood on its
threshold at the close of a dull January day.

The card that had been brought to the