"I don't know," said Curtiss. "I've had a fancy that some day the
business men of the country will have to go into politics and run it
on business lines."

The other pondered the reply. "That sounds simple," he said. "But
doesn't it mean the overthrow of Republican institutions?"

"I am afraid it would," said Curtiss. "But what's to be done?"

There was no answer.

"Do you know any remedy?" he persisted.

"No, I don't know any remedy," said Montague, "but I am looking for
one. And I can tell you of this, for a start; I value this Republic
more than I do any business I ever got into yet; and if I come to
that dilemma, it will be the business that will give way."

Curtiss was watching him narrowly. He put his hand on his shoulder.
"That's all right, old man," he said. "But take my advice, and don't
let Davenant hear you say that."

"Why not?" asked the other.

The younger man rose from his seat. "Here's my station," he said.
"The reason is--it might unsettle his ideas. He's a conservative
Democrat, you know, and he likes to make speeches at banquets!"