"Ah, we'll see you oftener among us now," he said as he wheeled round, holding out a huge red hand, "since your friend sits above." He laughed, with a motion towards the ceiling, signifying the direction of the governor's office. "By the way, I was sorry about that bill you were interested in," he went on; "upon my word I was--but we're skittish just now on the subject of corporations. Charters are dangerous things--you can't tell where they're leading you, eh?--but, on my word, I was sorry." "So was I," responded Galt with peculiar dryness--adding, with the frankness for which he was liked and hated, "I'd been dining that committee for weeks. Seven of them swore to back me through, and the eighth man said he'd go as the others went. My mind was so easy I lost sight of them for six hours, and every man John of them voted against the bill. I believe you got in a little work in those six hours." Rann laughed and lowered one puffy eyelid in a blandly unembarrassed wink. "Oh, we don't like corporations," he replied, "I think I remarked as much. How-de-do, Colonel? Where'd you dine last night? Missed you at table." The colonel was Diggs, and, after a curt nod in his direction, Galt pushed his way through the lobbyists and glanced into the House of Delegates, where an animated discussion of an oyster bill was in progress. Owing to the absolute supremacy of the Democrats, the body presented the effect of a party caucus rather than a legislative branch of opposing elements. The few Republicans and Populists were lost in the ruling faction. Galt was nodding here and there to members who recognised him, when his arm was touched by a lank countryman who was standing near. "Eh?" he inquired absently. "I jest axed you if you reckoned we paid that gentleman over yonder for talking that gosh about oyschers?" Galt bowed. "Why, I suppose so," he responded gravely. "It's a good day's work. Am I to presume that you are not interested in oysters?" "An' he gits fo' dollars a day for saying them things," commented the other shortly. "I tell you 'tain't wo'th fo' cents, suh." He lifted his bony hand and gave a tug at his scraggy beard. In a moment he spoke again. "Can you p'int out the young fellow from Goochland?" he inquired. "That's whar I come from." Galt pointed out the representative in question, and smiled because it was a man who had dined with him the evening before. "That he?" exclaimed the countryman contemptuously. "Why, I've been down here sence Saturday, an' that young spark ain't opened his mouth. I ain't heerd him mention Goochland sence I come." "Oh, there's time enough," ventured Galt good-humouredly. "He's young yet, and Goochland is immortal!" "An' I reckon he gits fo' dollars same as the rest," went on the stranger reflectively, "jest for settin' thar an' whittlin' at that desk. I used to study a good deal about politics fo' I come here, but they air jest a blamed swindle, that's what they air."