“But look here.  I think you are a little mistaken about it’s ever having cost anything for Congressional votes.  I happen to know something about that.  I’ve let you say your say—­now let me say mine.  I don’t wish to seem to throw any suspicion on anybody’s statements, because we are all liable to be mistaken.  But how would it strike you if I were to say that I was in Washington all the time this bill was pending? and what if I added that I put the measure through myself?  Yes, sir, I did that little thing.  And moreover, I never paid a dollar for any man’s vote and never promised one.  There are some ways of doing a thing that are as good as others which other people don’t happen to think about, or don’t have the knack of succeeding in, if they do happen to think of them.  My dear sir, I am obliged to knock some of your expenses in the head—­for never a cent was paid a Congressman or Senator on the part of this Navigation Company.”

The president smiled blandly, even sweetly, all through this harangue, and then said: 

“Is that so?”

“Every word of it.”

“Well it does seem to alter the complexion of things a little.  You are acquainted with the members down there, of course, else you could not have worked to such advantage?”

“I know them all, sir.  I know their wives, their children, their babies —­I even made it a point to be on good terms with their lackeys.  I know every Congressman well—­even familiarly.”

“Very good.  Do you know any of their signatures?  Do you know their handwriting?”

“Why I know their handwriting as well as I know my own—­have had correspondence enough with them, I should think.  And their signatures —­why I can tell their initials, even.”

The president went to a private safe, unlocked it and got out some letters and certain slips of paper.  Then he said: 

“Now here, for instance; do you believe that that is a genuine letter?  Do you know this signature here?—­and this one?  Do you know who those initials represent—­and are they forgeries?”

Harry was stupefied.  There were things there that made his brain swim.  Presently, at the bottom of one of the letters he saw a signature that restored his equilibrium; it even brought the sunshine of a smile to his face.

The president said: 

“That one amuses you.  You never suspected him?”

“Of course I ought to have suspected him, but I don’t believe it ever really occurred to me.  Well, well, well—­how did you ever have the nerve to approach him, of all others?”

“Why my friend, we never think of accomplishing anything without his help.  He is our mainstay.  But how do those letters strike you?”

“They strike me dumb!  What a stone-blind idiot I have been!”

“Well, take it all around, I suppose you had a pleasant time in Washington,” said the president, gathering up the letters; “of course you must have had.  Very few men could go there and get a money bill through without buying a single”