matter with that corporation without asking another word.'"

"What do you want to know about him for?" asked the General, after
he had got through laughing over this recollection.

"It's a case I'm concerned in," the other answered.

"I tell you who knows about him," said the General. "Harry Curtiss.
William E. Davenant has done law business for Price."

"Is that so?" said Montague. "Then probably I shall meet Harry."

"I can tell you a better person yet," said the other, after a
moment's thought. "Ask your friend Mrs. Alden; she knows Price
intimately, I believe."

So Montague sent up a note to Mrs. Billy, and the reply came, "Come
up to dinner. I am not going out." And so, late in the afternoon, he
was ensconced in a big leather armchair in Mrs. Billy's private
drawing-room, and listening to an account of the owner of the
Mississippi Steel Company.

"Johnny Price?" said the great lady. "Yes, I know him. It all
depends whether you are going to have him for a friend or an enemy.
His mother was Irish, and he is built after her. If he happens to
take a fancy to you, he'll die for you; and if you make him hate
you, you will hear a greater variety of epithets than you ever
supposed the language contained.--I first met him in Washington,"
Mrs. Billy went on, reminiscently; "that was fifteen years ago, when
my brother was in Congress. I think I told you once how Davy paid