Samuel Brannan brought the first news from Washington. Gwin, who owed his place to Broderick, had after all betrayed him. The bargained-for double patronage was not forthcoming. Broderick was grievously disappointed in Buchanan. There had been a clash between them. No Democratic Senator, the President had said, could quarrel profitably with the Administration. Which meant that Broderick must sustain the Lecompton Resolution or lose face and favor in the nation's forum. Things were at a bitter pass. "What's the Lecompton Resolution?" Alice asked. "It's a long story," Brannan answered. "In brief, it means forcing slavery on Kansas, whose people don't want it. And on the Lecompton Resolution hinges more or less the balance of power, which will keep us, here, in the free States, or give us, bound and gagged, to the South." "And you say Gwin has repudiated his pact?" "Either that ... or Buchanan has refused to sanction it. The result is the same. David doesn't get his patronage." "I'm glad! I'm glad!" cried Alice. Brannan looked at her astonished. "But ... you don't know what it means. His men, awaiting their political rewards! His organization here ... it will be weakened. You don't understand, Mrs. Windham." "I don't care," she said. "It leaves him--cleaner--stronger!" She turned swiftly and left the room. Brannan shrugged his shoulders. "There's no fathoming women," he thought. * * * * * But Broderick, in far Washington, understood when there came to him a letter. It bore neither signature nor salutation: "When one is stripped of weapons--sometimes it is by the will of God! And He does not fail to give us better ones. "Truth! Righteousness! Courage to attack all Evil. These are mightier than the weapons of the World. "Oh, my friend, stand fast! You are never alone. The spirit of another is forever with you. Watching--waiting--knowing you shall win the victory which transcends all price." He read this letter endlessly while people waited in his ante-room. Then he summoned Herbert Waters, now his secretary, and sent them all away. Among them was a leader of the New York money-powers who never forgave that slight; another was an emissary of the President. Broderick neither knew nor cared. He put the letter in his pocket; walked for hours in the snow, on the banks of the frozen Potomac. That afternoon he reviewed the situation, was closeted an hour with Douglas of Illinois. The two of them sought Seward of New York, who had just arrived. To their conference came Chase and Wade of Ohio, Trumbull of Illinois, Fessenden of Maine, Wilson of Massachusetts, Cameron of Pennsylvania. Soon thereafter Volney Howard in San Francisco received an unsigned telegram, supposedly from Gwin: Unexpected gathering anti-slavery forces. Looks bad for Lecompton Resolution. President worried about California.