I did as I was bid.
CHAPTER III. — AN EXCESS OF AUTHORITY.
It was a beautiful moonlight night, and Whittingham was looking her best as we made our way along the avenue leading to the Piazza 1871. The President walked briskly, silent but serene; I followed, the trouble in my mind reflected in a somewhat hang-dog air, and I was not much comforted when the President broke the stillness of the night by saying:
“You have set your foot on the first rung of the ladder that leads to fame and wealth, Mr. Martin.”
I was rather afraid I had set it on the first rung of the ladder that leads to the gallows. But there the foot was; what the ladder turned out to be was in the hands of the gods; so I threw off care, and as we entered the Piazza I pointed to the statue and said:
“Behold my inspiring example, your Excellency.”
“By Jove, yes!” he replied; “I make the most of my opportunities.”
I knew he regarded me as one of his opportunities, and was making the most of me. This is not a pleasant point of view to regard one’s self from, so I changed the subject, and said: