Part 19 (1/2)
Jennie blushed and smiled in friendly response to the Secretary's awkward effort at Southern politeness.
”Miss Barton, may I ask a little favor of you?”
”Certainly, Mr. Holt. Allow me to introduce my friend, Mr. Welford of Virginia.”
The Secretary bowed stiffly and d.i.c.k nodded his head with indifference.
”The Italian Minister with whom I've just been talking wishes the honor of an introduction for his Secretary. Miss Jennie, will you meet him?”
”Certainly--”
”He's looking forward to the possible new Empire of the South,” Holt whispered, ”and proposes at an early day to forestall the French--”
d.i.c.k threw him a look of scorn as he returned to the door and rose with a scowl.
”I'll go out and get fresh air.”
”Don't go--”
”I can't breathe in here. Two's company and three's a crowd.”
She seized his arm:
”Please sit down, d.i.c.k.”
”I'll be back directly--”
In spite of her protest he bounded up the steps of the gallery, turned sharply to the right, avoided the intruders and disappeared in the crowd.
The Secretary of War bowed again:
”Miss Barton, permit me to introduce to you Signor Henrico Socola, Secretary to His Excellency, the Minister of Sardinia.”
The slender figure bent low with an easy grace.
”Pleased to meet you, Signor Socola,” Jennie responded, lifting the heavy lashes from her l.u.s.trous brown eyes with the slightest challenge to his.
”The pleasure is all mine, Mad'moiselle,” he gravely replied.
”You'll excuse me now if I hurry on?” the Secretary said, again bowing and disappearing in the crowd.
”Mr. Holt tells me, Miss Barton, that you know every Senator on the floor.”
”Yes. My father has been in Congress and the Senate for twenty years.”
”You'll explain the drama to me to-day when the curtain rises?”
”If I can.”
”I'll be so much obliged--” he paused and the even white teeth smiled pleasantly. ”I'm pretty well up on American history but confess a little puzzled to-day. Your Southern Senators are really going to surrender their power here without a struggle?”