The Duke sauntered up the walk, whipping off his hat and swinging it in his hand as soon as he arrived under the trees of the old garden.  He came into the house without knocking.  The front door was swung inward, and only a screen door, on the latch, closed the portal.

“I’m making myself at home as usual, Vard,” he said, walking to the General and stroking his shoulder as the veteran leaned over his table above his figures.  “I’ve been waiting for an invitation to come up here.  But I didn’t dare to wait any longer.  It’s getting too near election.”

General Waymouth looked up at his old friend, studying his face.  He found only the bland cordiality of the ancient days.

“I’ve been waiting, myself, Thelismer,” he returned.  “And I’ll add that I don’t intend to wait much longer.  I’m not referring to you, now.  I refer to Presson and his gang.  I presume you are still close to them.  Will you inform them that I don’t intend to wait much longer?”

Thornton did not lose his smile.  He sat down.  He nodded across the room to Harlan with as much nonchalance as though he had been seeing him every day.

“I would have run in before this, Varden, but somehow I got the impression from you and the boy that you were fully capable of operating things yourself.  But with election only three weeks off I’m getting ready to change my mind.  What are you going to do with that steer team—­no, mule team—­that’s better?”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning Luke Presson and the members of the State Committee.  I’m a politician, Varden.  I’m out of a job just now.  Both crowds of you seem to think you can get along all right without me.  Probably you can.  Luke knows he can, so he says.  He doesn’t seem to like my management or my advice—­not after that convention!  But I can’t help being a politician.  I can’t sit on that hotel piazza any longer and see this mess scorch.  I’m too good a cook to stand it.”  He hitched forward in his chair and spoke low.  “Varden, it sounds like the devil making a presentation copy of the Ten Commandments on asbestos, but I can’t help that!  I’m giving it to you straight.  We’ve got body-snatchers for a State Committee.  They’d rather see the Democrat the next Governor than you.  That’s how mad they are.  That’s how sure they are that you propose to put their noses to the grindstone.  That’s how rotten politics is in this State.  The Democrat won’t give us reform.  They know it.  They’d rather see the State officers go by the board than have the kind of reform you’ve promised ’em.  They can get rid of their Democrat after two years.  Your reform may hang on a good while, once get the laws chained.  Now what are you going to do?”

“I know exactly what I’m going to do.”

“Yes; but, grinning Jehosaphat, how much time have you got to do it in?  Three weeks to election now!”

“This campaign, Thelismer, will be started, as it ought to be started, within the next twenty-four hours.  As to how it will be started I’ll have you present as a witness, if you’ll accept an invitation.”