new suggestions:  Mr. Tooting, on occasions, had even made additions to the “Book of Arguments” itself—­additions which had been used in New York and other States with telling effect against Mr. Crewes there.  Mr. Tooting knew by heart the time of going to press of every country newspaper which had passes (in exchange for advertising!).  It was two o’clock when the Honourable Hilary reached his office, and by three all the edicts would have gone forth, and the grape-shot and canister would have been on their way to demolish the arrogance of this petty Lord of Leith..

“Tooting’s a dangerous man, Vane.  You oughtn’t to have let him go,” Mr. Flint had said.  “I don’t care a snap of my finger for the other fellow.”

How Mr. Tooting’s ears would have burned, and how his blood would have sung with pride to have heard himself called dangerous by the president of the Northeastern!

He who, during all the valuable years of his services, had never had a sign that that potentate was cognizant of his humble existence.

The Honourable Brush Bascom, as we know, was a clever man; and although it had never been given him to improve on the “Book of Arguments,” he had ideas of his own.  On reading Mr. Crewe’s defiance that morning, he had, with characteristic promptitude and a desire to be useful, taken the first train out of Putnam for Ripton, to range himself by the side of the Honourable Hilary in the hour of need.  The Feudal System anticipates, and Mr. Bascom did not wait for a telegram.

On the arrival of the chief counsel from Fairview other captains had put in an appearance, but Mr. Bascom alone was summoned, by a nod, into the private office.  What passed between them seems too sacred to write about.  The Honourable Hilary would take one of the slips from the packet and give it to Mr. Bascom.

“If that were recommended, editorially, to the Hull Mercury, it might serve to clear away certain misconceptions in that section.

“Certain,” Mr. Bascom would reply.

“It has been thought wise,” the Honourable Hilary continued, “to send an annual to the Groveton News.  Roberts, his name is.  Suppose you recommend to Mr. Roberts that an editorial on this subject would be timely.”

Slip number two.  Mr. Bascom marks it ‘Roberts.’  Subject:  “What would the State do without the Railroad?”

“And Grenville, being a Prohibition centre, you might get this worked up for the Advertiser there.”

Mr. Bascom’s agate eyes are full of light as he takes slip number three.  Subject:  “Mr. Humphrey Crewe has the best-stocked wine cellar in the State, and champagne every night for dinner.”  Slip number four, taken direct from the second chapter of the “Book of Arguments”:  “Mr. Crewe is a reformer because he has been disappointed in his inordinate ambitions,” etc.  Slip number five:  “Mr. Crewe is a summer resident, with a house in New York,” etc., etc.