been highly gratified, but now it tortured him. He heard once more ringing in his ears Governor Sanders's words, "It is absolutely necessary that Senator Bicknell be not taken into our confidence." To cap the climax, Senator Bicknell said:
"Be sure and give my warmest regards to Mrs. Crane, and tell her I shall take the first opportunity to call on her—she is here, I suppose? She mentioned last summer that she was coming on with you."
"Yes," replied Crane, "we are established for the season"—and he gave the name of a comfortable, but not expensive or fashionable, apartment house where they had quarters.
"And say to her that, although I can't give her a dinner half so good as what she gave me, I shall expect her and you to arrange to dine with me at my house at a very early day. Good morning."
Crane escaped and went to his seat in the House. While he was contemplating the baseness of his own conduct, Thorndyke came over and spoke to him.
Thorndyke's first impression of Crane was that
