sat Messrs. Monsen and Stensgård drinking port—filthy stuff! I wouldn't touch it; but they might have had the decency to offer me a glass, all the same. However, Monsen turned to me and said, "What do you bet that Chamberlain Bratsberg won't go with our party at the preliminary election to-morrow?" "Indeed," said I, "how's that to be managed?" "Oh," he said, "this bill will persuade him
"Fieldbo.
Bill
?Lundestad.
At the election
?The Chamberlain.
Well? What then?
Heire.
Oh, I know no more. They said something about two thousand dollars. That's the figure they rate a gentleman's conscience at! Oh, it's abominable, I say!
The Chamberlain.
A bill for two thousand dollars?
Ringdal.
And Monsen has it?
Heire.
No, he handed it over to Stensgård.
Lundestad.
Indeed!
Fieldbo.
To Stensgård?