“To establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,” interrupted Abel, who had been scanning the Constitution, and who delivered the words with a rhetorical pomp of manner.

General Belch smiled approvingly.

“That’s it—­that’s the very tone.  You’ll do.  The great result is, who shall have his hand on the crank.  And there are, therefore, always three parties in our beloved country.”

Abel looked inquiringly.

“First, the ins, who are in two parties—­the clique that have, and the clique that haven’t.  They fight like fury among themselves, but when they meet t’other great party they all fight together, because the hopes of the crank for each individual of each body lie in the party itself, and in their obedience to its discipline.  These are two of the parties.  Then there is the great party of the outs, who have a marvelous unanimity, and never break up into quarrelsome bodies until there is a fair chance of their ousting the ins.  I say these things not because they are not pretty obvious, but because, as a man of fashion and society, you have probably not attended to such matters.  It’s dirty work for a gentleman.  But I suppose any of us would be willing to pick a gold eagle out of the mud, even if we did soil our fingers.”

“Of course,” replied Abel, in a tone that General Belch did not entirely comprehend—­“of course no gentleman knows any thing of politics.  Gentlemen are the natural governors of a country; and where they are not erected into a hereditary governing class, self-respect forbids them to mix with inferior men—­so they keep aloof from public affairs.  Good Heavens! what gentleman would be guilty of being an alderman in this town!  Why, as you know, my dear Belch, nothing but my reduced circumstances induces me to go to Congress.  By-the-by—­”

“Well, what is it?” asked the General.

“I’m dreadfully hard up,” said Abel.  “I have just the d——­est luck you ever conceived, and I must raise some money.”

The fat nose glistened again, while the General sat silently pondering.

“I can lend you a thousand,” he said, at length.

“Thank you.  It will oblige me very much.”

“Upon conditions,” added the General.

“Conditions?” asked Abel, surprised.

“I mean understandings,” said the General.

“Oh! certainly,” answered Abel.

“You pledge yourself to me and our friends that you will at the earliest moment move in the matter of the Grant; you engage to secure the votes somehow, relying upon the pecuniary aid of our friends who are interested; and you will repay me out of your first receipts.  Ele will stand by you through thick and thin.  We keep him there for that purpose.”

“My dear Belch, I promise any thing you require.  I only want the money.”