“How are you, General?” said Mr. Crewe to the Speaker-to-be, “I’m always glad to shake the hand of a veteran.  Indeed, I have thought that a society—­”

“I earned my title,” said General Doby, somewhat sheepishly, “fighting on Governor Brown’s staff.  There were twenty of us, and we were resistless, weren’t we, Brush?”

“Twenty on a staff!” exclaimed Mr. Crewe.

“Oh, we furnished our own uniforms and paid our own way—­except those of us who had passes,” declared the General, as though the memory of his military career did not give him unalloyed pleasure.  “What’s the use of State sovereignty if you can’t have a glittering army to follow the governor round?”

Mr. Crewe had never considered this question, and he was not the man to waste time in speculation.

“Doubtless you got a letter from me, General Doby,” he said.  “We did what we could up our way to put you in the Speaker’s chair.”

General Doby creased a little in the middle, to signify that he was bowing.

“I trust it will be in my power to reciprocate, Mr. Crewe,” he replied.

“We want to treat Mr. Crewe right,” Mr. Bascom put in.

“You have probably made a note of my requests,” Mr. Crewe continued.  “I should like to be on the Judiciary Committee, for one thing.  Although I am not a lawyer, I know something of the principles of law, and I understand that this and the Appropriations Committee are the most important.  I may say with truth that I should be a useful member of that, as I am accustomed to sitting on financial boards.  As my bills are of some considerable importance and deal with practical progressive measures, I have no hesitation in asking for the chairmanship of Public Improvements,—­and of course a membership in the Agricultural is essential, as I have bills for them.  Gentlemen,” he added to the room at large, “I have typewritten manifolds of those bills which I shall be happy to leave here—­at headquarters.”  And suiting the action to the word, he put down a packet on the table.

The Honourable Brush Bascom, accompanied by Mr. Ridout, walked to the window and stood staring at the glitter of the electric light on the snow.  The Honourable Hilary gazed steadily at the table, while General Doby blew his nose with painful violence.

“I’ll do what I can for you, certainly, Mr. Crewe,” he said.  “But—­what is to become of the other four hundred and ninety-nine?  The ways of a Speaker are hard, Mr. Crewe, and I have to do justice to all.”

“Well,” answered Mr. Crewe, of course I don’t want to be unreasonable, and I realize the pressure that’s put upon you.  But when you consider the importance of the work I came down here to do—­”

“I do consider it,” said the Speaker, politely.  “It’s a little early to talk about the make-up of committees.  I hope to be able to get at them by Sunday.  You may be sure I’ll do my best for you.”

“We’d better make a note of it,” said Mr. Crewe; “give me some paper,” and he was reaching around behind General Doby for one of the precious sheets under Mr. Bascom’s hat, when the general, with great presence of mind, sat on it.  We have it, from a malicious and untrustworthy source, that the Northeastern Railroads paid for a new one.