“And yet,” asks the General, “why should he assail little Peg? Both he and Mrs. Calhoun called upon her and Major Eaton, and congratulated them on their marriage.” “That was while Major Eaton was a senator,” Wizard Lewis responds, “and before he became War Secretary and got in the way of the Calhoun plans. Your Vice-President, General, is mad to be President. Also, he is so blurred in his strategy as to imagine that these attacks on little Peg will advance his prospects.” The General snorts suspiciously; a light breaks upon him. “Then your theory is,” he says, “that Calhoun assails Peg as a step toward the presidency.” “Precisely, General! Rightly construed, it is not an attack on Peg, but you. He is trying to put you before the people in the role of one who countenances the immoral, and upholds a bad woman. In that he hopes to array every virtuous fireside against you. He looks for you to ask a second term; and, by any means in his power, he will strive to destroy you out of his path.” “Now, was there ever such infamy!” cries the General. “Here is a man so vile that he would pave his way to the White House with the slain honor of a woman!” The hate of the General is now focused upon Statesman Calhoun. That ignoble strategist, he resolves, shall never achieve the presidency. As one wherewith to defeat Statesman Calhoun and succeed himself, the General picks upon Cabineteer Van Buren--that suave one, who is so much to the urbane fore for the pretty Peg. “Yes, sir,” says the General to Wizard Lewis; “I'll take a second term! And then, Major, we will make Matt President after me.” “We'll do more,” returns Wizard Lewis. “When we elect you President the second time, we'll shove aside the plotting Calhoun, and make Van Buren Vice-President.” “Right!” exults the General. “Then, should I die, Matt will at once step into my shoes.” Neither the General nor Wizard Lewis is at pains to conceal their design. The sallow cheek of Statesman Calhoun grows sallower; for the news is like an icicle through his heart. It in no wise abates his war upon the pretty Peg, however; which--as Wizard Lewis guesses--is only meant to break down the General with good people. Vindicated; in all quarters she rises in triumph over Mrs. Calhoun, Mrs. Ingham, Mrs. Branch, Mrs. Berrien, and what other “society Red Sticks”--as he terms them--seek her destruction. The next thing is to shear away the cabinet strength of Statesman Calhoun. Wizard Lewis recommends a dissolution of the Cabinet. He lays his thought before the General, who sits listening in the smoke of his long pipe. Cabineteer Van Buren will resign. Cabi-neteers Eaton and Barry will emulate his example and turn over their portfolios. With half his Cabinet gone, should the Calhoun three prove backward, the General shall demand their portfolios. “And then?” asks the General, his iron-gray head in a cloud of tobacco smoke. CHAPTER XXI--WIZARD LEWIS URGES A CHANGE IN FRONT