plans to bring Mr. Gwynn within his reach; it was in deference to those
plans that our solemn capitalist found himself upon Mrs. Hanway-Harley's
hospitable right hand on that evening of the dinner, with his severe
legs outstretched beneath the Harley mahogany.

"I will see you to-morrow--with your permission," observed Senator
Hanway, as he parted with Mr. Gwynn.

When Mr. Gwynn returned from Mrs. Hanway-Harley's he stood in the middle
of the floor, and told Richard, word for word, all that had taken place.
The latter young gentleman was in a prodigious good humor. For the first
time in his life he had done a day's work, being the twenty-five hundred
word story written and dispatched to the _Daily Tory_, and that was one
reason for joy. Besides, there was the manager's wire of praise--and
Richard thought it marked a weakness in him--that, too, had warmed the
cockles of his heart. Being in good humor, he listened without
interrupting comment to the rasping, parrot tones of Mr. Gwynn while
that gentleman, without inflection or emphasis or slightest shade of
personal interest, told the tale of the night's adventures, from Mrs.
Hanway-Harley's flattery and Mr. Harley's song, to Senator Hanway's last
handclasp and that parting promise of a call.

"And that is all, sir," said Mr. Gwynn, at the close, coughing
apologetically behind his palm as though fearful of criticism.

"You did well," was Richard's response. "When Senator Hanway calls
to-morrow, introduce me to him at once. After that, I shall talk and you
will acquiesce. You may go."

"Thank you, sir. Very good, sir!" said Mr. Gwynn.