“By Heavens, sir!  I know as little of him as yourself; but I take it he is a savage who it will require some fighting before he yields to all the demands I shall make of him.”

“Now as to this fighting, your honor may excuse me; for though I have knocked a man or two down with my stick, and will turn my back to no man in valor at pen-fighting, I have no liking for these knives and pistols, for at best there is only an inch or two between them and a man’s life.”

“You must cultivate your courage, friend Tickler; you must cultivate your courage!” interposed the general, as Mr. Tickler quietly drew a fresh cigar from his pocket.  “The day is come when, if a man would live in a mansion, he must have an undaunted heart, and courage enough to commend himself to whatever may turn to his advantage.  You shall have chances enough to fill your pockets with gold.  And now that we have these government matters to attend to, you shall soon see that General Roger Potter can manage a nation as well as any of them, if the clergy but let him alone.”

“As to the gold, general, I pray the day may soon come; for I like to feel something in my pocket, which is lean enough now,” rejoined the critic, casting an anxious look at his chief.

“Trust to fortune, and I warrant you a castle and so much gold that every malicious scribbler you have had a tilt with shall speak ill of you.”

Tickler was inclined to look upon the castle as one of those he had so many times built of air, and declared that in addition to not having enough to buy a cigar, he had several times caught the landlord’s eye, and knew that his bill was uppermost in his thoughts.

“Remember, friend,” resumed the general, “the law will not let him hang you; and as he has been paid for one week, I take it there will be no moral harm if you shell him out of the rest, as you did the widow.  Nor does it discover great valor in a man that he arm himself with his fears instead of his sword.  It is necessary that you be firm and fearless, never for a moment deserting your chief, and always standing ready to do his bidding, if it be to make his enemies dance.”

“Love of my mother, sir!” ejaculated Tickler, “you would not have me shell this landlord; for then it would get into the newspapers, and I’d be set down for a great rogue.”

“Sharp fellow as he is, I take you, friend Tickler, for a sharper.  And as you had skill enough to shell a widow, pray let your inclination take a natural turn, and if you cannot shell this fellow out of so small a trifle, then I am much mistaken in your qualities for a diplomatist; for I can tell you that it is come a fashion at this day for all our first-class secretaries to get well in debt, and then leave their creditors to whistle.  Now, as my purse is getting low, and it will not do to let the nation suffer, do you pack up a couple of shirts, and heeding nobody, pass down the avenue, affecting the unconcern of the new member from Georgia; and when you have reached the cars (if any man say aught, tell him you are seeing a friend off) go quietly away in them, thanking Heaven for the bountiful examples that have been set you by high officials.  Here! here are ten dollars; get speedily away, and I will join you in Baltimore.  Fail not to meet me, for the nation needs all our efforts, and this is no time to trifle.”