“I see!  It is not now my firm.  I gave up my partnership.”

“So I saw, but who of these hungry contractors will believe that you gave up—­a fortune—­to enter the army!  The facts are either not well known or have been misstated.”

“Very likely.  I gave up what you speak of as a fortune as you gave up a great income at the bar, and for the same reason I withdrew all my capital.  Even the rental of my mills will go to the Sanitary Commission.  I could not leave a doubt or the least cause for suspicion.”

“I was sure of you, but this has been a well-nursed scandal, due to an influential lot of disappointed contractors who would have controlled the giving of that contract had I not come into office.  I shall kill it dead.  Trust that to me.”

“Thank you, Stanton, I could have stood it.”

“Yes, but you do not know, my dear Penhallow, what Washington is at present.  Well, let it go.  It is now my business.  Do you know this Mr. Swallow?”

“Know him?  Yes—­a usurious scamp of a lawyer, who to our relief has left Westways.  Do not trust him.  I presume that I owe this talk about me to him.”

“Well, yes, to him and his associates.”

“What does he want now?”

“What he will not get.  Let him go.  I said I had two reasons for ordering you here.  One I have stated.  I want some one I can entirely trust, not merely for honesty and loyalty, but also because of business competence.  All manner of work for the Government is going on here and elsewhere.  I want some one to report on it from time to time.  It will keep you here this winter.  You do not like it?”

“No, but it was an order.”

“Yes, I am sorry to take you for a time out of active service, but trust me this war will last long.  This winter I want you for a variety of inspection work here or elsewhere.  It will be mere business, dull, unexciting, with unending watchfulness, and advisory technical help and advice.  I want not only personal character—­I can get that, but not easily the combination of technical training and business capacity.”  He unrolled a bundle of papers.  “There for example, Colonel, are plans for a new form of ambulance and pontoon wagons ready for approval.  I want a report on both.”  He went on to speak of the ambulances with amazing knowledge of the details of their build.  Penhallow watched this earnest, overtasked man, and began to comprehend the vastness of his daily toil, the weight of his mighty load of care.  As he talked, cards were brought in, messages sent or received, telegrams—­the talk was dropped—­resumed—­and the Colonel simply listened.  At last the Secretary said, “That will do for to-day.  You have room No. 27, and such clerks and orderlies as you may need.  You will find on your table these specifications—­and more—­others.  And now, how is your beautiful Grey Pine and its mistress and Leila?  You will assure them of my undiminished affection.  And John—­where is he?”