Tonight, as he sat on the side of his wife's bed, he was thinking somewhat of this, for he had seen Aileen Butler again, playing and singing at her piano as he passed the parlor door.

She was like a bright bird radiating health and enthusiasm--a reminder of youth in general.
"It's a strange world," he thought; but his thoughts were his own, and he didn't propose to tell any one about them.
The bond issue, when it came, was a curious compromise; for, although it netted him his twenty thousand dollars and more and served to introduce him to the financial notice of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania, it did not permit him to manipulate the subscriptions as he had planned.

The State treasurer was seen by him at the office of a local lawyer of great repute, where he worked when in the city.

He was gracious to Cowperwood, because he had to be.

He explained to him just how things were regulated at Harrisburg.