Costell laughed when Peter spoke of the commissions.  “If you want Catlin to do anything well, you’ve got to stand over him till it’s done.  I wanted you on both commissions, so that you could see how useless they all are, and not blame us politicians for failing in our duty.  Green promises to get you appointed Secretary of the Food Commission, which is the next best thing, and will give you a good salary for a time.”

The Tenement Commission met with little delay, and Peter had a chance to examine its motley members.  The big landlord was a great swell, who had political ambitions, but was too exclusive, and too much of a dilettante to be a real force.  Peter took a prejudice against him before meeting him, for he knew just how his election to the Assembly had been obtained—­even the size of the check—­and Peter thought buying an election was not a very creditable business.  He did not like what he knew of the labor agitator, for such of the latter’s utterances and opinions as he had read seemed to be the cheapest kind of demagogism.  The politician he had met and liked.  Of the contractor he knew nothing.

The Commission organized by electing the politician as chairman.  Then the naming of a secretary was discussed, each member but Peter having a candidate.  Much to Peter’s surprise, the landlord, Mr. Pell, named Ray Rivington.

“I thought he was studying law?” Peter said.

“He is,” said Pell.  “But he can easily arrange to get off for the few hours we shall meet a week, and the five dollars a day will be a very nice addition to his income.  Do you know him?”

“We were in college together.  I thought he was rich.”

“No.  He’s of good family, but the Rivingtons are growing poorer every year.  They try to live on their traditions, and traditions don’t pay grocers.  I hope you’ll help him.  He’s a very decent fellow.”

“I shall vote for him,” replied Peter, marvelling that he should be able to give a lift to the man who, in the Harvard days, had seemed so thoroughly the mate of Watts and the other rich fellows of the “gang.”  Rivington being the only candidate who had two votes, he was promptly selected.

Thirty arduous minutes were spent in waiting for the arrival of the fifth member of the Commission, and in the election of chairman and secretary.  A motion was then made to adjourn, on the ground that the Commission could not proceed without the secretary.

Peter promptly objected.  He had been named secretary for this particular meeting, and offered to act until Rivington could be notified.  “I think,” he said, “that we ought to lay out our programme.”

The labor agitator agreed with him, and, rising, delivered an extempore speech, declaring that “we must not delay.  The leeches (here he looked at Mr. Pell) are sucking the life-blood of the people,” etc.

The chairman started to call him to order, but Peter put his hand on the chairman’s arm.  “If you stop him,” he said in a low voice, “he’ll think we are against him, and he’ll say so outside.”