“I never knew anyone to forget the vindculum,” murmured Billy, unintelligibly.

“Whatever prestige,” pursued the parent, “I may be possessed of, by virtue of my name and services to the state, has been yours to draw upon freely.  I have not hesitated to exert it in your behalf whenever opportunity offered.  And you have deserved it, William.  You’ve been the best of sons.  And now this appointment comes to take you away from me.  I have but a few years left to live.  I am almost dependent upon others now, even in walking and dressing.  What would I do without you, my son?”

The Governor’s pipe dropped to the floor.  A tear trickled from his eye.  His voice had risen, and crumbled to a weakling falsetto, and ceased.  He was an old, old man about to be bereft of a son that cherished him.

Billy rose, and laid his hand upon the Governor’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, father,” he said, cheerfully.  “I’m not going to accept.  Elmville is good enough for me.  I’ll write to-night and decline it.”

At the next interchange of devoirs between the Governor and General Deffenbaugh on Lee Avenue, His Excellency, with a comfortable air of self-satisfaction, spoke of the appointment that had been tendered to Billy.

The General whistled.

“That’s a plum for Billy,” he shouted.  “Who’d have thought that Billy—­but, confound it, it’s been in him all the time.  It’s a boost for Elmville.  It’ll send real estate up.  It’s an honour to our state.  It’s a compliment to the South.  We’ve all been blind about Billy.  When does he leave?  We must have a reception.  Great Gatlings! that job’s eight thousand a year!  There’s been a car-load of lead-pencils worn to stubs figuring on those appointments.  Think of it!  Our little, wood-sawing, mealy-mouthed Billy!  Angel unawares doesn’t begin to express it.  Elmville is disgraced forever until she lines up in a hurry for ratification and apology.”

The venerable Moloch smiled fatuously.  He carried the fire with which to consume all these tributes to Billy, the smoke of which would ascend as an incense to himself.

“William,” said the Governor, with modest pride, “has declined the appointment.  He refuses to leave me in my old age.  He is a good son.”

The General swung round, and laid a large forefinger upon the bosom of his friend.  Much of the General’s success had been due to his dexterity in establishing swift lines of communication between cause and effect.

“Governor,” he said, with a keen look in his big, ox-like eyes, “you’ve been complaining to Billy about your rheumatism.”

“My dear General,” replied the Governor, stiffly, “my son is forty-two.  He is quite capable of deciding such questions for himself.  And I, as his parent, feel it my duty to state that your remark about—­er—­rheumatism is a mighty poor shot from a very small bore, sir, aimed at a purely personal and private affliction.”