“How are you getting on with the Attorney-General?” asked Arkwright, as they set out in his electric brougham.

“He’s getting on with me much better,” replied Craig, “now that he has learned not to trifle with me.”

“Stillwater is said to be a pretty big man,” said Arkwright warningly.

“The bigger the man, the easier to frighten,” replied Josh carelessly, “because the more he’s got to lose.  But it’s a waste of time to talk politics to you.  Grant, old man, I’m sick and worn out, and how lonesome!  I’m successful.  But what of that, since I’m miserable?  If it wasn’t for my sense of duty, by Heaven, I sometimes think I’d drop it all and go back to Wayne.”

“Don’t do that, Josh!” exclaimed Arkwright.  “Don’t let the country go rolling off to ruin!”

“Like all small creatures,” said Craig, “you take serious matters lightly, and light matters seriously.  You right a moment ago when you said I needed a wife.”

“That’s all settled,” said Grant.  “I’m going to get you one.”

“A woman doesn’t need a man—­if she isn’t too lazy to earn a living,” pursued Craig.  “But what’s a man without a woman about?”

“You want a wife, and you want her quick,” said Arkwright.

“You saw what a condition my clothes are in.  Then, I need somebody to talk with.”

“To talk to,” corrected Grant.

“I can’t have you round all the time to talk to.”

“Heaven forbid!” cried Arkwright.  “You never talk about anything but yourself.”

“Some day, my boy,” said Josh, with his grave good humor of the great man tolerating the antics of a mountebank, “you’ll appreciate it wasn’t the subject that was dull, but the ears.  For the day’ll come when everybody’ll be thinking and talking about me most of the time.”

Arkwright grinned.  “It’s lucky you don’t let go before everybody like that.”

“Yes, but I do,” rejoined Craig.  “And why not?  They can’t stop my going ahead.  Besides, it’s not a bad idea”—­he nodded, with that shrewdness which was the great, deep-lying vein in his nature—­ “not at all a bad idea, to have people think you a frank, loose-mouthed, damn fool—­if you ain’t.  Ambition’s a war.  And it’s a tremendous advantage to lead your enemies to underestimate you.  That’s one reason why I always win...So you’re going to try to get me a wife?”

“I’m going to get you one—­one of the sort you need.  You need a woman who’ll tame you down and lick you into shape.”

Craig smiled scornfully.

“One who’ll know how to smooth the enemies you make with your rough-and-tumble manners; one who’ll win friends for you socially—­”

Josh made a vehement gesture of dissent.  “Not on your life!” cried he.  “Of course, my wife must be a lady, and interested in my career.  But none of your meddling politicians in petticoats for me!  I’ll do my own political maneuvering.  I want a woman, not a bad imitation of a man.”