A conference in the corner of the platform, while the fourth ballot is progressing, is held between Senators Whitredge and Greene, Mr. Ridout and Mr. Manning.  So far the Honourable Hilary has apparently done nothing but let the storm take its course; a wing-footed messenger has returned who has seen Mr. Thomas Gaylord walking rapidly up Maple Street, and Austen Vane (most astute and reprehensible of politicians) is said to be at the Widow Peasley’s, quietly awaiting the call.  The name of Austen Vane—­another messenger says—­is running like wildfire through the hall, from row to row.  Mr. Crewe has no chance—­so rumour goes.  A reformer (to pervert the saying of a celebrated contemporary humorist) must fight Marquis of Queensberry to win; and the People’s Champion, it is averred, has not.  Shrewd country delegates who had listened to the Champion’s speeches and had come to the capital prepared to vote for purity, had been observing the movements since yesterday, of Mr. Tooting and Mr. Wading with no inconsiderable interest.  Now was the psychological moment for Austen Vane, but who was to beard Hilary?

No champion was found, and the Empire, the fate of which was in the hands of a madman, was cracking.  Let an individual of character and known anti-railroad convictions (such as the gentleman said to be at the Widow Peasley’s) be presented to the convention, and they would nominate him.  Were Messrs. Bascom and Botcher going to act the part of Samsons?  Were they working for revenge and a new regime?  Mr. Whitredge started for the Pelican, not at his ordinary senatorial gait, to get Mr. Flint on the telephone.

The result of the fourth ballot was announced, and bedlam broke loose.

The Honourable Giles Henderson of Kingston has . . 419 The Honourable Humphrey Crewe of Leith has . . . . 337 The Honourable Adam B. Hunt of Edmundton has . . . 256

Total, one thousand and eleven out of a thousand!  Two delegates abstained from voting, and proclaimed the fact, but were heard only a few feet away.  Other delegates, whose flesh and blood could stand the atmosphere no longer, were known to have left the hall!  Aha! the secret is out, if anybody could hear it.  At the end of every ballot several individuals emerge and mix with the crowd in the street.  Astute men sometimes make mistakes, and the following conversation occurs between one of the individuals in question and Mr. Crewe’s chauffeur.

   Individual:  “Do you want to come in and see the convention and
   vote?”

   Chauffeur:  “I am Frenchman.”

   Individual:  “That doesn’t cut any ice.  I’ll make out the ballot,
   and all you’ll have to do is to drop it in the box.” 
   Chauffeur:  “All right; I vote for Meester Crewe.”

Sudden disappearance of the individual.

Nor is this all.  The Duke of Putnam, for example, knows how many credentials there are in his county—­say, seventy-six.  He counts the men present and voting, and his result is sixty-one.  Fifteen are absent, getting food or—­something else.  Fifteen vote over again.  But, as the human brain is prone to error, and there are men in the street, the Duke miscalculates; the Earl of Haines miscalculates, too.  Result—­eleven over a thousand votes, and some nine hundred men in the hall!