The ladies were rising from the table.

Harlan did not reply.  He did not remain.  He stepped aside and allowed the ladies to pass, and followed them from the alcove.  Presson stared after him angrily.  Linton, obeying his request, sat down after Mrs. Presson and her party had retired.

“You’ve got a fool, there, for a grandson, Thelismer,” stated the chairman with decision.

“He doesn’t seem to be a politician,” returned the old man, gazing after him.  “There are a few joints in a man that he ought to be able to bend in politics, but Harlan seems to be afflicted with a sort of righteous ossification.  He’ll have to have his lesson, that’s all!”

The young man was not in the mood to accept Miss Presson’s invitation to accompany them to the hotel parlor.  In the corridor he refused so brusquely that she stood and gazed at him, allowing the others to go on without her.

“You seem to be taking politics very seriously, Mr. Harlan Thornton.”

“I’m taking honesty and my pledges seriously, that’s all.”

“Then your honesty puts you in opposition to my father, does it, sir?” It was said with a spark of resentment.  “Do you realize how that sounds?”

“I do not say so, Miss Presson.”

“But I have heard queer rumors this morning.  Take a woman’s advice once, Mr. Thornton:  it may be worth something, because I have seen more of this game than you have.  Don’t kill your career at the outset by trying to realize an impossible ideal.  It’s bad enough in love, but it’s much worse in politics!” She hurried away, joining the others.

Harlan paced the corridor impatiently, waiting for Linton to come out.  Few men of the hundreds thronging past recognized him, and he was not accosted.

He caught fragments of talk.  It was evident that the rumor concerning Spinney had found as many disbelievers as believers.  Some charged that the story was started simply for the purpose of hurting the reform candidate by decrying his strength and inducing the wavering opportunists to come over to the winning side.  Others said a trade had been effected, and that the story of it had leaked out prematurely.  At any rate, the buzz of gossip showed that the situation was badly mixed.

Linton came alone.  He had left the Duke and the chairman in conference.  He took Harlan by the arm, and walked to the end of the corridor.  They were alone there.

“Of course you know how I came to be in on the Waymouth side,” he began, promptly.  “Once I was in I didn’t propose to quit so long as there was any hope.  I did what mighty few young men in politics would do, Mr. Thornton—­I stood out last night against Presson and your grandfather when they dropped the General.  I just say that to show you I’m not a cur.  But it’s hopeless.  The thing has turned completely over.”

“You’re going to desert the General?”

“It isn’t desertion.  That isn’t a word that belongs in this situation.  General Waymouth will not call it that after I’ve talked with him.”