Part 11 (1/2)

”I see my friend Mr. Polk approaching,” he continued, ”and I would like to have a word or so with him.”

We three walked in company down the steps and a short distance along the walk, until presently we faced the gentleman whose approach had been noted. We paused in a little group under the shade of an avenue tree, and the gentlemen removed their hats as Mr. Calhoun made a somewhat formal introduction.

At that time, of course, James K. Polk, of Tennessee, was not the national figure he was soon to become at the Baltimore convention. He was known best as Speaker of the House for some time, and as a man experienced in western politics, a friend of Jackson, who still controlled a large wing of the disaffected; the Democratic party then being scarce more than a league of warring cliques. Although once governor of Tennessee, it still was an honor for Mr. Polk to be sought out by Senator John Calhoun, sometime vice-president, sometime cabinet member in different capacities. He showed this as he uncovered. A rather short man, and thin, well-built enough, and of extremely serious mien, he scarce could have been as wise as he looked, any more than Mr.

Daniel Webster; yet he was good example of conventional politics, plat.i.tudes and all.

”They have adjourned at the House, then?” said Calhoun.

”Yes, and adjourned a bear pit at that,” answered the gentleman from Tennessee. ”Mr. Tyler has asked me to come across town to meet him. Do you happen to know where he is now?”

”He was here a few moments ago, Governor. We were but escorting this lady to her carriage, as she claims fatigue from late hours at the ball last night.”

”Surely so radiant a presence,” said Mr. Polk gallantly, ”means that she left the ball at an early hour.”

”Quite so,” replied that somewhat uncertain lady demurely. ”Early hours and a good conscience are advised by my physicians.”

”My dear lady, Time owns his own defeat in you,” Mr. Polk a.s.sured her, his eyes sufficiently admiring.

”Such pretty speeches as these gentlemen of America make!” was her gay reply. ”Is it not so, Mr. Secretary?” She smiled up at Calhoun's serious face.

Polk was possessed of a political nose which rarely failed him. ”_Mr.

Secretary?_” he exclaimed, turning to Calhoun.

The latter bowed. ”I have just accepted the place lately filled by Mr.

Upshur,” was his comment.

A slow color rose in the Tennesseean's face as he held out his hand. ”I congratulate you, Mr. Secretary,” said he. ”Now at last we shall see an end of indecision and boasting pretense.”

”Excellent things to end, Governor Polk!” said Calhoun gravely.

”I am but an humble adviser,” rejoined the man from Tennessee; ”but a.s.suredly I must hasten to congratulate Mr. Tyler. I have no doubt that this means Texas. Of course, my dear Madam, we talk riddles in your presence?”

”Quite riddles, although I remain interested,” she answered. I saw her cool eyes take in his figure, measuring him calmly for her mental tablets, as I could believe was her wont. ”But I find myself indeed somewhat fatigued,” she continued, ”and since these are matters of which I am ignorant--”

”Of course, Madam,” said Mr. Calhoun. ”We crave your pardon. Mr.

Trist--”

So now I took the lady's sunshade from her hand, and we two, making adieux, pa.s.sed down the shaded walk toward the avenue.

”You are a good cavalier,” she said to me. ”I find you not so fat as Mr.

Pakenham, nor so thin as Mr. Calhoun. My faith, could you have seen that gentleman this morning in a wrapper--and in a red worsted nightcap!”

”But what did you determine?” I asked her suddenly. ”What has my chief said to cause you to fail poor Mr. Pakenham as you did? I pitied the poor man, in such a grueling, and wholly without warning!”

”Monsieur is droll,” she replied evasively. ”As though I had changed! I will say this much: I think Sir Richard will care more for Mexico and less for Mexicans after this! But you do not tell me when you are coming to see me, to bring back my little shoe. Its mate has arrived by special messenger, but the pair remains still broken. Do you come to-night--this afternoon?”

”I wish that I might,” said I.

”Why be churlish with me?” she demanded. ”Did I not call at your request upon a gentleman in a red nightcap at two in the morning? And for your sake--and the sake of sport--did I not almost promise him many things?