icians there and spoken to by some before he reached the
stairs. Mounting, he found the door with the numeral, and knocked. The
medley of voices within ceased; there were sounds of rattling papers,
and of closing of folding doors. The key turned in the lock, and State
Senator Nathaniel Billings appeared in the doorway, with a look of
polite inquiry on his convivial face. This expression, when he saw
Austen, changed to something like consternation.

"Why, hello, hello," said the senator. "Come in, come in. The Honourable
Hilary's here. Where'd you come down?"

"Hello, Nat," said Austen, and went in.

The Honourable Hilary sat in his usual arm-chair; Mr. Botcher severely
strained the tensile strength of the bedsprings; Mr. Hamilton Tooting
stood before the still waving portieres in front of the folding doors;
and Mr. Manning, the division superintendent, sat pensively, with his
pen in his mouth, before the marble-topped table from which everything
had been removed but a Bible. Two gentlemen, whom Austen recognized
as colleagues of Mr. Billings in the State Senate, stood together in a
window, pointing out things of interest in the street. Austen walked up
to his father and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"How are you, Judge?" he said. "I only came into pay my respects. I
hope I have not disturbed any--entertainment going on here," he added,
glancing in turn at the thoughtful occupants of the room, and then
at the curtains which hid the folding doors to the apartment of his
Excellency.

"Why, no," answered the Honourable Hilary, his customary grunt being the
only indication of surprise on his part; "didn't know you were coming
down."

"I didn't know it myself until this morning," said Austen.

"Legislative case, I suppose," remarked the Honourable Jacob Botcher, in
his deep voice.

"No, merely a pleasure trip, Mr. Botcher."

The Honourable Jacob rubbed his throat, the two State senators in the
window giggled, and Mr. Hamilton Tooting laughed.

"I thought you took to the mountains in such cases, sir," said Mr.
Botcher.

"I came for intellectual pleasure this time," said Austen. "I understand
that Mr. Crewe is to deliver an epoch-making speech on the national
situation to-morrow."

This was too much even for the gravity of Mr. Manning; Mr. Tooting
and Mr. Billings and his two colleagues roared, though the Honourable
Jacob's laugh was not so spontaneous.

"Aust," said Mr. Tooting, admiringly, "you're all right."