_some_ of you," answered Mr. Pullwool,
cunningly. It was well put; it was as much as to say, "I shall astonish
the green ones; of course the really strong heads among you won't be in
the least bothered." "I estimate," he continued, "that the city
treasury will have to put up a good round sum, say a hundred thousand
dollars, be it more or less."

A murmur of surprise, of chagrin, and of something like indignation ran
along the line of official mustaches. "Nonsense," "The dickens," "Can't
be done," "We can't think of it," broke out several councilmen, in a
distinctly unparliamentary manner.

"Gentlemen, one moment," pleaded Pullwool, passing his greasy smile
around the company, as though it were some kind of refreshment. "Look
at the whole job; it's a big job. We must have lawyers; we must have
newspapers in all parts of the State; we must have writers to work up
the historical claims of the city; we must have fellows to buttonhole
honorable members; we must have fees for honorable members themselves.
How can you do it for less?"

Then he showed a schedule; so much to this wire-puller and that and the
other; so much apiece to so many able editors; so much for eminent
legal counsel; finally, a trifle for himself. And one hundred thousand
dollars or thereabouts was what the schedule footed up, turn it
whichever way you would.

Of course this common council of Fastburg did not dare to vote such a
sum for such a purpose. Mr. Pullwool had not expected that it would;
all that he had hoped for was the half of it; but that half he got.

"Did they do it?" breathlessly inquired Tom Dicker of him, when he
returned to the hotel.

"They done it," calmly, yet triumphantly, responded Mr. Pullwool.

"Thunder!" exclaimed the amazed Dicker. "You are the most extraordinary
man! You must have the very Devil in you!"

Instead of being startled by this alarming supposition, Mr. Pullwool
looked gratified. People thus possessed generally do look gratified
when the possession is alluded to.

But the inspired lobbyist did not pass his time in wearing an aspect of
satisfaction. When there was money to get and to spend he could run his
fat off almost as fast as if he were pouring it into candle-moulds. The
ring--the famous capital ring of Fastburg--must be seen to, its fingers
greased, and its energy quickened. Before he rolled his apple-dumpling
of a figure into bed that night he had interviewed Smith and Brown the
editors, Jones and Ro