"
"But," persisted Wiles, "she must have some power; there's Judge Mason
and Senator Peabody, who are constantly talking about her; and Dinwiddie
of Virginia escorted her through the Capitol the other day."
Mistress Hopkinson laughed. "Mason and Peabody aspire to be thought
literary and artistic, and Dinwiddie wanted to pique ME!"
"But Thatcher is no fool--"
"Is Thatcher a lady's man?" queried the lady suddenly.
"Hardly, I should say," responded Wiles. "He pretends to be absorbed in
his swindle and devoted to his mine; and I don't think that even you--"
he stopped with a slight sneer.
"There, you are misunderstanding me again, and, what is worse, you are
misunderstanding your case. Thatcher is pleased with her because he has
probably seen no one else. Wait till he comes to Washington and has an
opportunity for comparison;" and she cast a frank glance at her mirror,
where Wiles, with a sardonic bow, left her standing.
Mr. Gashwiler was quite as confident of his own success with Congress.
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