Didactic fiction; Political fiction; Social problems -- Fiction
A careful perusal of the biographies of great men of the dynamic type
leads one to the conclusion that much of their success is due to an
assiduous improvement of every opportunity,--and Mr. Humphrey Crewe
certainly possessed this quality, also. He is in the Pelican Hotel this
evening, meeting the men that count. Mr. Job Braden, who had come down
with the idea that he might be of use in introducing the new member from
Leith to the notables, was met by this remark:--“You can't introduce
me to any of 'em--they all know who I am. Just point any of 'em out you
think I ought to know, and I'll go up and talk to 'em. What? Come up
to my house after a while and smoke a cigar. The Duncan house, you
know--the big one with the conservatory.”
Mr. Crewe was right--they all knew him. The Leith millionaire, the
summer resident, was a new factor in politics, and the rumours of the
size of his fortune had reached a high-water mark in the Pelican Hotel
that evening. Pushing through the crowd in the corridor outside the
bridal suite waiting to shake hands with the new governor, Mr. Crewe
gained an entrance in no time, and did not hesitate to interrupt the
somewhat protracted felicitations of an Irish member of the Newcastle
delegation.
“How are you, Governor?” he said, with the bonhomie of a man of the
world. “I'm Humphrey Crewe, from Leith. You got a letter from me, didn't
you, congratulating you upon your election? We didn't do badly for you
up there. What?”
“How do you do, Mr. Crewe?” said Mr. Gray, with dignified hospitality,
while their fingers slid over each other's; “I'm glad to welcome you
here. I've noticed the interest you've taken in the State, and the
number of ahem--very useful societies to which you belong.”
“Good,” said Mr. Crewe, “I do what I can. I just dropped in to shake
your hand, and to say that I hope we'll pull together.”
The governor lifted his eyebrows a little.
“Why, I hope so, I'm sere, Mr. Crewe,” said he.
“I've looked over the policy of the State for the last twenty years in
regard to public improvements and the introduction of modern methods as
concerns husbandry, and I find it deplorable. You and I, Governor, live
in a progressive age, and we can't afford not to see something done.
What? It is my desire to do what I can to help make your administration
a notable advance upon those of your predecessors.”
“Why--I greatly appreciate it, Mr. Crewe,” said Mr. Gray.
“I'm sure you do. I've looked over your record, and I find you've
had experience in State affairs, and that you are a successful and
conservative business man. That is the type we want--eh? Business men.
You've read over the bills I sent you by registered mail?”
“Ahem,” said Mr. Gray, “I've been a good deal occupied since election
day, Mr. Crewe.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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