“How are you, Sandford?  Fine day.  Anything doing?  Money more in demand, they say.  Hope all is right; though it looks like a squall.”

Mr. Sandford merely bowed, with an occasional “Ah!” or “Indeed!”

“How about politics?” Bullion continued.  “Talk of sending you to the Senate.  Couldn’t do better,—­I mean the city couldn’t; you’d be a d—–­d fool to go.  Somebody has to, though.  You as well as any.  Can I help you?”

“You rather surprise me.  I had not thought of the honor.”

Bullion turned his eye upon him,—­a cool, gray eye, overhung by an eyebrow that seemed under perfect muscular control; for the gray wisp of hair grew pointed like a paint-brush, and had a queer motion of intelligence.

“Oh, shy, I see!  Just as well.  Too forward is bad.  We’ll fix it.  Good morning!”

And Bullion, sticking his hands in his pockets, went away with a half-audible whistle, to look after his debtors, and draw in his resources before the anticipated “squall” should come.  Mr. Sandford had lost the opportunity of making his carefully studied speech; but, as Bullion had said, it was just as well.

Mr. Stearine came next,—­a tall, thin man, with a large, bony frame, and a bilious temperament.  A smile played perpetually around his loose mouth,—­not a smile of frank good-humor, but of uneasy self-consciousness.  He smiled because it was necessary to do something; and he had not the idea of what repose meant.

“You are going to the Senate, I hear,” said the visitor.

“Indeed!”

“Oh, yes,—­I’ve heard it from several.  Mr. Windham approves it, and I just heard Bullion speak of it.  A solid man is Bullion; a man of few words, but all his words tell; they drop like shot.”

“Mr. Windham was good enough to speak of it to me to-day; but I haven’t made up my mind.  In fact, it will be time enough when the nomination is offered to me.  By-the-way, Mr. Stearine, you were speaking the other day of a little discount.  If you want a thousand or two, I think I can get it for you.  Street rates are rather high, you know; but I will do the best I can.”

Mr. Stearine smiled again, as he had done every minute before, and expressed his gratification.

“Let me have good paper on short time; it’s not my money, and I must consult the lender’s views, you know.  About one and a half per cent. a month, I think; he may want one and three quarters, or two per cent,—­not more.”

Mr. Stearine hoped his friend would obtain as favorable terms as he could.

“You’ll have no trouble in meeting the larger note due, Bullion, on which I am indorser?” said Sandford.

“None at all, I think,” was the reply.

“Two birds with one stone,” thought Sandford, after his friend’s departure.  “A good investment, and the influence of a good man to boot.  Now to see Fletcher and learn how affairs are coming on.  We’ll make that ten thousand fifteen before fall is over, if I am not mistaken.”