One object, however, long escaped him.

Supposing, what was more than probable, that the President's opposition to Ratcliffe's declared friends made it impossible to force any of them into office; it would then be necessary to try some new man, not obnoxious to the President, as a candidate for the Cabinet.

Who should this be?
Ratcliffe pondered long and deeply, searching out a man who combined the most powerful interests, with the fewest enmities.

This subject was still uppermost at the moment when service ended.

Ratcliffe pondered over it as he walked back to his rooms.