ding out a huge red hand, "since your friend sits above." He laughed,
with a motion towards the ceiling, signifying the direction of the
governor's office. "By the way, I was sorry about that bill you were
interested in," he went on; "upon my word I was--but we're skittish just
now on the subject of corporations. Charters are dangerous things--you
can't tell where they're leading you, eh?--but, on my word, I was
sorry."

"So was I," responded Galt with peculiar dryness--adding, with the
frankness for which he was liked and hated, "I'd been dining that
committee for weeks. Seven of them swore to back me through, and the
eighth man said he'd go as the others went. My mind was so easy I lost
sight of them for six hours, and every man John of them voted against
the bill. I believe you got in a little work in those six hours."

Rann laughed and lowered one puffy eyelid in a blandly unembarrassed
wink. "Oh, we don't like corporations," he replied, "I think I remarked
as much. How-de-do, Colonel? Where'd you dine last night? Missed you at
table."

The colonel was Diggs, and, after a curt nod in his direction, Galt
pushed his way through the lobbyists and glanced into the House of
Delegates, where an animated discussion of an oyster bill was in
progress.

Owing to the absolute supremacy of the Democrats, the body presented the
effect of a party caucus rather than a legislative branch of opposing
elements. The few Republicans and Populists were lost in the ruling
faction.

Galt was nodding here and there to members who recognised him, when his
arm was touched by a lank countryman who was standing near.

"Eh?" he inquired absently.

"I jest axed you if you reckoned we paid that gentleman over yonder for
talking that gosh about oyschers?"

Galt bowed. "Why, I suppose so," he responded gravely. "It's a good
day's work. Am I to presume that you are not interested in oysters?"

"An' he gits fo' dollars a day for saying them things," commented the
other shortly. "I tell you 'tain't wo'th fo' cents, suh."

He lifted his bony hand and gave a tug at his scraggy beard. In a moment
he spoke again.

"Can you p'int out the young fellow from Goochland?" he inquired.
"That's whar I come from."

Galt pointed out the representative in question, and smiled because it
was a man who had dined with him the evening before.

"That he?" exclaimed the countryman contemptuously. "Why, I've been down
here sence Saturday, an' that young sp