Marshall felt his lips quivering, the warm tears forcing their way
to his eyes. He turned beseechingly to his friend. His voice
trembled.

"Charles," he begged, "are they laughing at me?"

Eagerly, before the other would answer, Senator Hanley tossed his
cigar into the water and, scrambling forward, seized Marshall by
the hand.

"Mr. Marshall," he cried, "our President has great faith in Abraham
Lincoln's judgment of men. And this salute means that this morning
he appointed you our new minister to The Hague. I'm one of those
politicians who keeps his word. I TOLD YOU I'd take your tin sign
away from you by sunset. I've done it!"