ark ain't opened his mouth. I
ain't heerd him mention Goochland sence I come."

"Oh, there's time enough," ventured Galt good-humouredly. "He's young
yet, and Goochland is immortal!"

"An' I reckon he gits fo' dollars same as the rest," went on the
stranger reflectively, "jest for settin' thar an' whittlin' at that
desk. I used to study a good deal about politics fo' I come here, but
they air jest a blamed swindle, that's what they air."

He turned on his heel, and in a moment Galt entered the elevator and
ascended to the office of the chief executive.

Reaching the landing he crossed a small gallery, where hung portraits of
historic Virginians--governors in periwigs and lace ruffles and
statesmen of a later age in high neckcloths. At the end of a short
passage he opened the door of the anteroom and faced the private
secretary, who was busy with his typewriter.

The secretary glanced up, recognised Galt, and gave a cordial nod.

"The governor's got a gentleman in just now who called about the
boundary line between Virginia and Maryland," he said as Galt sat down.
"He wants to see you, though, so you'd better wait. For a wonder there's
nobody else here. Two-thirds of the legislature were up a while ago."

He spoke with an easy intimacy of tone, while the click of the
typewriter went on rapidly.

Galt nodded in response and, as he did so, the door opened and the
caller came out.

"You're the very man!" exclaimed a hearty voice, and Nicholas Burr was
holding out his hand. "Come in. You're the only human being I know who
is always the right man in the right place. How do you manage it?"

He sat down before his desk, pushing aside the litter of letters and
pamphlets. "I should like you to glance over this list of appointments,"
he went on.

"It is what I dropped in about," responded Galt.

He flung himself into an easy chair and stretched his long legs
comfortably before him. He did not take the list at once, but sat
staring abstractedly at the freshly papered green walls above the large
Latrobe stove whose isinglass doors shone like bloodshot eyes.

It was a long cheerful room with three windows which overlooked the
grassy square. There was a bright red carpet on the floor, and before
the desk lay a gaudy rug enriched with stiff garlands. In one corner a
walnut bookcase was filled with papers filed for reference, and the
shelves across from it were lined with calf-bound "Codes of Virginia."
Among the picture