foot of the ladder!"

"Why?" demanded the girl.

"Because the navy is a service and the consular service isn't a
service. Men like Senator Hanley use it to pay their debts. While
Henry's been serving his country abroad, he's lost his friends,
lost his 'pull.' Those politicians up at Washington have no use for
him. They don't consider that a consul like Henry can make a
million dollars for his countrymen. He can keep them from shipping
goods where there's no market, show them where there is a market."
The admiral snorted contemptuously. "You don't have to tell ME the
value of a good consul. But those politicians don't consider that.
They only see that he has a job worth a few hundred dollars, and
they want it, and if he hasn't other politicians to protect him,
they'll take it." The girl raised her head.

"Why don't you speak to the senator?" she asked. "Tell him you've
known him for years, that----"

"Glad to do it!" exclaimed the admiral heartily. " It won't be the
first time. But Henry mustn't know. He's too confoundedly touchy.
He hates the IDEA of influence, hates men like Hanley, who abuse
it. If he thought anything was given to him except on his merits,
he wouldn't take it."

"Then we won't tell him, " said the girl. For a moment she
hesitated.

"If I spoke to Mr. Hanley," she asked, "told him what I learned