“I need scarcely say, Hugh,” he added, “that your presence in the capital should not be advertised as connected with this—­legislation.  They will probably attribute it to us in the end, but if you’re reasonably careful, they’ll never be able to prove it.  And there’s no use in putting our cards on the table at the beginning.”

“No indeed, sir!” I agreed.

He took my hand and pressed it.

“Good luck,” he said.  “I know you’ll get along all right.”