A fortnight elapsed, and the University bill had gathered to itself many friends, meantime.  Senator Dilworthy began to think the harvest was ripe.  He conferred with Laura privately.  She was able to tell him exactly how the House would vote.  There was a majority—­the bill would pass, unless weak members got frightened at the last, and deserted—­a thing pretty likely to occur.  The Senator said: 

“I wish we had one more good strong man.  Now Trollop ought to be on our side, for he is a friend of the negro.  But he is against us, and is our bitterest opponent.  If he would simply vote No, but keep quiet and not molest us, I would feel perfectly cheerful and content.  But perhaps there is no use in thinking of that.”

“Why I laid a little plan for his benefit two weeks ago.  I think he will be tractable, maybe.  He is to come here tonight.”

“Look out for him, my child!  He means mischief, sure.  It is said that he claims to know of improper practices having been used in the interest of this bill, and he thinks be sees a chance to make a great sensation when the bill comes up.  Be wary.  Be very, very careful, my dear.  Do your very-ablest talking, now.  You can convince a man of anything, when you try.  You must convince him that if anything improper has been done, you at least are ignorant of it and sorry for it.  And if you could only persuade him out of his hostility to the bill, too—­but don’t overdo the thing; don’t seem too anxious, dear.”

“I won’t; I’ll be ever so careful.  I’ll talk as sweetly to him as if he were my own child!  You may trust me—­indeed you may.”

The door-bell rang.

“That is the gentleman now,” said Laura.  Senator Dilworthy retired to his study.

Laura welcomed Mr. Trollop, a grave, carefully dressed and very respectable looking man, with a bald head, standing collar and old fashioned watch seals.

“Promptness is a virtue, Mr. Trollop, and I perceive that you have it.  You are always prompt with me.”

“I always meet my engagements, of every kind, Miss Hawkins.”

“It is a quality which is rarer in the world than it has been, I believe.  I wished to see you on business, Mr. Trollop.”

“I judged so.  What can I do for you?”

“You know my bill—­the Knobs University bill?”

“Ah, I believe it is your bill.  I had forgotten.  Yes, I know the bill.”

“Well, would you mind telling me your opinion of it?”

“Indeed, since you seem to ask it without reserve, I am obliged to say that I do not regard it favorably.  I have not seen the bill itself, but from what I can hear, it—­it—­well, it has a bad look about it.  It—­”

“Speak it out—­never fear.”

“Well, it—­they say it contemplates a fraud upon the government.”

“Well?” said Laura tranquilly.

“Well!  I say ‘Well?’ too.”

“Well, suppose it were a fraud—­which I feel able to deny—­would it be the first one?”