Mr.Gwynn creaked apologetically, but stood his ground.
"What is it ?" said Richard.
"If you please, sir," observed Mr.Gwynn, a gleam in the piscatorial eye, "if you please, sir, before I leave for Europe have I your permission to take out my first papers and declare my intention to become a citizen of this country ?" "May I ask what has moved you to propose this compliment for the United States ?" "Why, sir, should you be so good as to sanction it, I have a little plan, sir." "Indeed; and what may be the plan which results so much to the advantage of this country ?" "I have a plan, sir," said Mr.Gwynn, with a hesitating creak, "always of course, sir, with your consent, to become a Senator, sir." "Ah, I see," observed Richard with a fine gravity, "your acquaintance with Senators Gruff and Dice and Loot and others, and your study of those statesmen, have encouraged an ambition to make yourself one of them." "Yes, sir, if you please, sir." "And what State do you intend to honor as its Senator ?" "That I shall leave entirely to you, sir.

I think you will agree, sir, that there are several States where the word of the Anaconda should accomplish what I desire, sir." "Well," observed Richard, schooling his face to a difficult seriousness, "there has been much in your recent experiences, Mr.Gwynn, to justify the thought.

It will do no harm were you to take the steps you suggest towards becoming a citizen, even if it should not end in a seat in the Senate, a place for which I cannot deny you possess many qualifying attributes.

However, the great thing now is to get across to Europe with every possible dispatch and have all ready for our coming.

We shall be abroad several months; on our return we may again take up this business of making you a Senator." "Thank you, sir; very good, sir!" Richard became ingenious; pursuing a bright idea, he took occasion to explain to Mr.Sands that the Hanway report on Northern Consolidated, which he, Mr.Sands, had been so intelligent as to purloin, having resulted in certain Wall Street advantages to Mr.Bayard and others, it was now determined that an annuity should be purchased in his, Mr.
Sands', favor.
"The matter," said Richard, "will receive the attention of Mr.Bayard on June second.