The boy had ceased to listen to Jennie's chatter. His eye had suddenly rested on a group of three men seated in the diplomatic gallery--one evidently of high official position by the deference paid him. The man on the left of the official was young, handsome, slender, and pulled the corners of his mustache with a slow lazy touch of his graceful hand. His eyes were fixed on Jennie with a steady gaze. The Minister from Sardinia, of the Court of Victor Emmanuel, sat on the right, bowing and gesticulating with an enthusiasm out of all proportion to the importance of the conversation. Behind this group sat a fourth man who leaned forward occasionally and whispered to the official. His face was in shadow and the only thing Dick could see was the thick dark brown beard which covered his regular features and a pair of piercing black eyes. "For heaven's sake, Jennie," the boy cried at last, "who is that villain in the Diplomatic gallery?" "Where?" "In the corner there on the right." "Oh, that's the Sardinian Minister--King Victor Emmanuel's new drummer of trade for Genoa. He's getting ahead of the French, too." "No--no, I don't mean that little rat. I mean the big fellow with the heavy jaw and a face like a rattlesnake. He's trying to charm you too." Jennie laughed. "Silly! That's the new Secretary of War, Joseph Holt." "A scoundrel, if God ever made one--" "Because he looks at me?" "No--that shows his good taste. It's the way he looks at you and moves his crooked mouth and the way he bends his big flat head forward." "Rubbish--he's a loyal Southerner--and if we have to fight he'll be with us." "Yes--he--_will_!" "Of course, he will. He's careful now. He's in old Buck's cabinet. Wait and see. He called on Mr. Davis last night." "That's nothing--so did old Seward--" "Different--Seward's a Black Republican from New York--Holt's a Southern Democrat from Mississippi." "And who's the young knight by his side with the dear little mustache to which he seems so attached?" Jennie looked in silence for a moment. "I never saw him before. He's handsome, isn't he?" "Looks to me like a young black snake just shed his skin waiting for that old adder to show him how to strike." "Dick--" "God save the Queen! They're coming here--they're coming for you--" The Secretary of War had nodded in recognition of Jennie, risen suddenly, and moved toward the gallery exit with his slender companion. "Nonsense, Dick--he only bowed because he saw me staring--" "He's bringing that mustache to meet you--" The boy turned with a scowl toward the door of their gallery and saw the Secretary of War slowly making his way through the crowd to their seats. "I told you so--" Jennie blushed and smiled in friendly response to the Secretary's awkward effort at Southern politeness. "Miss Barton, may I ask a little favor of you?" "Certainly, Mr. Holt. Allow me to introduce my friend, Mr. Welford of Virginia."