Before I knew it, the Senator and I were in the presence, and there was none there but we three.

General Grant got slowly up from his table, put his pen down, and stood before me with the iron expression of a man who had not smiled for seven years, and was not intending to smile for another seven.

He looked me steadily in the eyes--mine lost confidence and fell.

I had never confronted a great man before, and was in a miserable state of funk and inefficiency.

The Senator said:-- "Mr.President, may I have the privilege of introducing Mr.Clemens ?" The President gave my hand an unsympathetic wag and dropped it.