“Yes,--they did that last year,” added Ellis. “Martin was a Signet man, and he used to go to all the meetings and everything, and he was nothing but an athloot. People laughed at first, but they thought it rather nice. I’ll vote for any of those fellows.” “Well, I nominate Sears Wolcott,” called some one from the sofa,--one of the men who had pledged himself to Haydock. “I know him pretty well, and shouldn’t mind seeing him in.” “Buck him in,--buck him in!” said two or three others, impatiently. “And whoever’s been black-balling Leonard all evening, for Heaven’s sake don’t next time,” added Haviland. Haydock was relieved that it hadn’t been necessary for him to nominate Wolcott directly, and that there was but little preliminary discussion of his fitness for election. One or two men did attempt to agitate his probable lack of sympathy with everything the Signet stood for, but the tendency to hurry the meeting along prevailed. A vote was called for. Haydock involuntarily glanced at McGaw, for he knew where the strongest opposition would come from. But McGaw’s face was non-committal as to future intentions. The hat went around. Haviland and Ellis assorted the cards. “Ten red and four black,” announced Haviland, with a groan. The result was better than Haydock had expected. One of those black votes he knew would never be changed; but the other three might be tired out, as he and Ellis had combined to hold at bay every other candidate as long as Wolcott was in the running. “Now for another go at Leonard,” said Haviland, wearily. “Just what he had before, twelve red and two black,” he added when the hat came back to the desk. “Who is doing it? Get up and curse him out like a man; it’s a shame, when all but two are willing to have him in.” But no one got up and cursed. Haydock and Ellis were the guilty ones, and they had nothing against Leonard. No one else was nominated; and Haydock said a few words about Wolcott before his name was voted on a second time. His manner in saying them was the artistic bit of hypocrisy he felt the occasion demanded. Willingness under the circumstances, rather than eagerness, was what he sought to express. He knew the value of his own conservative personality.