ght which suddenly shone in her face.

"That's a fair promise," she said smoothly, and fled before he could add
conditions.

Her aim and her methods alike remained hidden from him. He knew only
that she was leading them all by the nose to some brilliant climax of
her own devising. He was willing to be led. The climax turned out to be
a dinner. Anne had long ago discovered the secret influence of a fine
dinner on the politics of the world. The halo of a saint pales before
the golden nimbus which well-fed guests see radiating from their hostess
after dinner. A good man may possess a few robust virtues, but the
dinner-giver has them all. Therefore, the manager of the alliance
gathered about her table one memorable evening the leaders whose good
opinion and hearty support Lord Constantine valued in his task of
winning the Irish to neutrality or favor for his enterprise. Arthur
recognized the climax only when Lord Constantine, after the champagne
had sparkled in the glasses, began to explain his dream to Sullivan.

"What do you think of it?" said he.

"It sounds as harmless as a popgun, and looks like a vision. I don't see
any details in your scheme," said the blunt leader graciously.

"We can leave the details to the framers of the alliance," said His
Lordship, uneasy at Arthur's laugh. "What we want first is a large,
generous feeling in its favor, to encourage the leaders."

"Well, in general," said the Boss, "it is a good thing for all countries
to live in harmony. When they speak the same language, it's still
better. I have no feeling one way or the other. I left Ireland young,
and would hardly have remembered I'm Irish but for Livingstone. What do
you think of it, Senator?"

"An alliance with England!" cried he with contempt. "Fancy me walking
down to a district meeting with such an auctioneer's tag hanging on my
back. Why, I'd be sold out on the spot. Those people haven't forgot how
they were thrown down and thrown out of Ireland. No, sir. Leave us out
of an alliance."

"That's the popular feeling, I think," Sullivan said to His Lordship.

"I can understand the Senator's feelings," the Englishman replied
softly. "But if, before the alliance came to pass, the Irish question
should be well settled, how would that affect your attitude, Senator?"

"My attitude," replied the Senator, posing as he reflected that a
budding statesman made the inquiry, "would be entirely in your favor."

"Thank you. What more could