Part 69 (1/2)

”You know Mr. Drewitt?” asked Peter.

”Yes,” said all but madame.

”Do you take pleasure in knowing him?”

”Of course,” said Watts. ”He's very amusing and a regular parlor pet.”

”That is the reason I took him. For ten years that man was notoriously one of the worst influences in New York State politics. At Albany, in the interest of a great corporation, he was responsible for every job and bit of lobbying done in its behalf. I don't mean to say that he really bribed men himself, for he had lieutenants for the actual dirty work, but every dollar spent pa.s.sed through his hands, and he knew for what purpose it was used. At the end of that time, so well had he done his work, that he was made president of the corporation. Because of that position, and because he is clever, New York society swallowed him and has ever since delighted to fete him. I find it no harder to shake hands and a.s.sociate with the men he bribed, than you do to shake hands and a.s.sociate with the man who gave the bribe.”

”Even supposing the great breweries, and railroads, and other interests to be chiefly responsible for bribery, that makes it all the more necessary to elect men above the possibility of being bribed,” said Le Grand. ”Why not do as they do in Parliament? Elect only men of such high character and wealth, that money has no temptation for them.”

”The rich man is no better than the poor man, except that in place of being bribed by other men's money, he allows his own money to bribe him.

Look at the course of the House of Lords on the corn-laws. The slave-holders' course on secession. The millionaire silver senators'

course on silver. The one was willing to make every poor man in England pay a half more for his bread than need be, in order that land might rent for higher prices. The slave-owner was willing to destroy his own country, rather than see justice done. The last are willing to force a great commercial panic, ruining hundreds and throwing thousands out of employment, if they can only get a few cents more per ounce for their silver. Were they voting honestly in the interest of their fellow-men?

Or were their votes bribed?”

Mrs. D'Alloi rose, saying, ”Peter. We came early and we must go early.

I'm afraid we've disgraced ourselves both ways.”

Peter went down with them to their carriage. He said to Leonore in the descent, ”I'm afraid the politics were rather dull to you. I lectured because I wanted to make some things clear to you.”

”Why?” questioned Leonore.

”Because, in the next few months you'll see a great deal about bosses in the papers, and I don't want you to think so badly of us as many do.”

”I shan't think badly of you, Peter,” said Leonore, in the nicest tone.

”Thank you,” said Peter. ”And if you see things said of me that trouble you, will you ask me about them?”

”Yes. But I thought you wouldn't talk politics?”

”I will talk with you, because, you know, friends must tell each other everything.”

When Leonore had settled back in the carriage for the long drive, she cogitated: ”Mr. Le Grand said that he and Miss De Voe, and Mr. Ogden had all tried to get Peter to talk about politics, but that he never would.

Yet, he's known them for years, and is great friends with them. It's very puzzling!”

Probably Leonore was thinking of American politics.

CHAPTER XLVII.

THE BLUE-PETER.

Leonore's puzzle went on increasing in complexity, but there is a limit to all intricacy, and after a time Leonore began to get an inkling of the secret. She first noticed that Peter seemed to spend an undue amount of time with her. He not merely turned up in the Park daily, but they were constantly meeting elsewhere. Leonore went to a gallery. There was Peter! She went to a concert. Ditto, Peter! She visited the flower-show.

So did Peter! She came out of church. Behold Peter! In each case with nothing better to do than to see her home. At first Leonore merely thought these meetings were coincidences, but their frequency soon ended this theory, and then Leonore noticed that Peter had a habit of questioning her about her plans beforehand, and of evidently shaping his accordingly.

Nor was this all. Peter seemed to be constantly trying to get her to spend time with him. Though the real summer was fast coming, he had another dinner. He had a box at the theatre. He borrowed a drag from Mr.