things of Mr. Gwynn, was in no wise surprised that he possessed in his
service one who was hearer, talker, and decider, just as ancient kings
kept folk about whose business was to make witty retorts for them and
conduct sparkling conversations in their stead, they themselves being
too royal for anything so much beneath that level of exalted inanity,
which as all men know is the only proper mark of princely minds.
Something of this raced hit or miss through Senator Hanway's thoughts,
as Mr. Gwynn presented Richard and then relapsed--hinge by hinge as
though his joints were rusty with much aristocratic unbending--into a
chair.

Richard gave him no space to dwell upon the phenomenon. He came forward
with a little atmosphere of deference; for Richard had his own deep
designs. Then, too, Senator Hanway was white of hair and twice his age,
to say nothing of being a certain young lady's uncle.

"Mr. Gwynn has told me of you," said he. Then pushing straight for the
point after methods of his own, he continued: "What is it the Anaconda
Airline can do? Mr. Gwynn is quite convinced, from what he has been told
of those positions you have from time to time assumed in the Senate,
that his own interest with that of every railway owner lies in following
your leadership. Indeed, I think he has decided to adopt whatever
suggestion you may make." Richard glanced towards Mr. Gwynn, and that
great man gave his mandarin bow.

Senator Hanway, while smitten of vague amazement at Mr. Gwynn's
acquiescent spirit, accepted it without pause. However marvelous it
might be, at least he himself ran no risk. More than that, on second
thought it did not occur to him as so peculiarly unusual; a Senator in a
measure becomes inured to the wondrous.