you," continued the president, "nor
shall I discourage ambition. But I hope, Andrew, you have only in view
the greatest good of the greatest number. At such a time, it is well
for the probationer to ask himself two questions: Is it not
self-glorification that prompts me to pick this man out from among so
many? and, Am I actuated by any personal animosity? If you cannot
answer both these questions in the negative, it is time to ask a third,
Should I go on with this undertaking?"

"In this case," said Andrew, "I do not think it is self-glory, and I am
sure it is not spite. He is a man I have a very high opinion of."

"A politician? Remember that we are above party considerations."

"He is a politician," said Andrew, reluctantly, "but it is his politics
I admire."

"And you are sure his time has come? Then how do you propose to set
about it?"

"I thought of calling at his house, and putting it to him."

The president's countenance fell.

"Well, well," he said, "that may answer. But there is no harm in
bearing in mind that persuasion is not necessarily a passive force.
Without going the length of removing him yourself, you know, you could
put temptation in his way."

"If I know my man," said Andrew, "that will not be required."

The president had drunk life's disappointments to the dregs, but it was
not in his heart to damp the youth's enthusiasm.

Experience he knew to be a commodity for which we pay a fancy price.

"After that," said Andrew, "I thought of Henry Irving."

"We don't kill actors," his companion said.

It was Andrew's countenance's turn to fall now.

"We don't have time for it," the president explained. "When the
society was instituted, we took a few of them, but merely to get our
hands in. We didn't want to bungle good cases, you see, and it did not
matter so much for them."

"How did you do it?"

"We waited at the stage-door, and went off with the first person who
came out, male or female."

"But I understood you did not take up women?"

"Nor do we. Theatrical people constitute a sex by themselves--like
curates."

"Then can't I even do the man who stands at the theatre doors, all
shirt-front and diamonds?"

The president shivered.

"If you happen to be passing, at any rate," he said.

"And surely some of the playwrights would be better dead. They must
see that themselves."

"They have had their chance," said the president. Despite his
nationality, Andrew had not he