Caleb turned red. He was aware of the universal prejudice against his politics in Colonel Royall’s class. “Thank you, Colonel,” he said formally, rising to look for glasses in his cupboard. “I can’t offer you fine old wine, sir, but I have some Kentucky whiskey that Judge Hollis sent me.” “After the speech at Cresset’s?” The corners of the colonel’s mouth twitched. Caleb poured out the whiskey and handed the glass to his guest. “You know the judge well, sir,” he remarked, and his composure under the jest won upon the colonel. He tasted the whiskey with the air of a connoisseur. “In Virginia, Mr. Trench, we should make this into juleps,” he said appreciatively; “the judge was raised in the Kentucky mountains and he knows a good thing when he sees it. I read the report of your speech, sir, and I admired it, but”--the colonel let his hand fall a little heavily on the arm of the chair where Diana’s elbow had rested,--he little knew the enormity of his action--“if I thought it was all true I should have to change my coat. I don’t--but I believe you do.” “Thank you,” said Trench quietly, “I do.” “Very good, sir,” said Colonel Royall; “then you did right, but you’ve made more enemies than you could shake a stick at. Jacob Eaton’s my cousin, a young man yet, but mighty clever, and I reckon he’ll remember all you said. There isn’t any call for me to resent things for Jacob! No, sir, I honor you for your courage, if those are your convictions, but Yarnall can’t be elected here.” “I think he can, Colonel,” Caleb replied, unmoved. The lines about his mouth straightened a little and there was a glint in his gray eyes; otherwise his composure was unruffled. Colonel Royall set down his empty glass and waved aside the proffered bottle. “No more, sir, it’s too good to be safe; like most fine things, a little goes a long way. What makes you think you can nominate Yarnall? Of course you can’t elect a Republican, so I see your point in trying to influence the Democrats. By gum, sir, it’s the first time it’s been attempted, and it’s knocked the organization into splinters; they’re standing around waiting to see what you’ll do next!” The colonel laughed softly. “They’ll nominate Yarnall and they’ll elect him,” said Caleb; “Aylett can’t get two votes out of ten. I’m sorry to go against your candidate, Colonel,” he added, smiling. “Eh?” said the colonel; he was, in fact, suddenly aware of the charm of Caleb’s rare smile. He had not known that the man could smile like that. “I’m afraid I appear an interloper in a fenced, no-trespass field,” Caleb continued pleasantly. “I’m a Republican, of course, and”--his eyes twinkled--“something of a Yankee, but, as we can’t elect a Republican, you must forgive me for choosing the less instead of the greater evil.” Colonel Royall picked up his broad-brimmed Panama and twirled it thoughtfully on the top of his stick. “What’s your objection to Aylett?” he asked meditatively.