to Utopia; my own is aimed to meet the human nature I know
best--the human nature De Witt Clinton, in whose steps you evidently
aspire to tread, comprehended and took into the reckoning. Be practical
as he was practical--as you were in the early days of our acquaintance.
I no longer ask you to sign the bill; I respect your punctilio. I only
beg that you will permit this measure which your party has espoused to
become a law without your signature. Everybody will understand your
position. You will occupy an honorable middle ground."

"For me there is no honorable middle ground. It lies with me to approve
or reject."

The Boss got upon his feet.

"I dislike coercion," he said.

The governor rose.

"You need use none. No amount of it could hypnotize me into seeing a bad
bill as a good bill."

"Do you count the presidency so lightly?"

"No American can count it lightly."

"You face political suicide. Do you fancy your renomination for this
office possible?"

"No. I have weighed that, too."

"And your virtue is unshaken?"

The governor smiled at the sneer.

"Oh, I'm past all that," he said. "I took the precaution to veto the
bill before you came to tempt."

With uncertain step the old leader turned and made his way to the door,
where he paused to vent his bewildered, yet sincere judgment.

"I've never met anybody quite like you in politics, Shelby," he owned,
almost kindly. "You are a paradox--a sort of admirable fool."

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