"You're coming to live with me. I'll make a new man of you."
"You?" interjected the other with some surprise. "You and Big Bill haven't enough room for yourselves, much less for——"
"No, not at this exact moment, but, as you public speakers would say, we are on the verge of momentous changes, fellow citizens. Say nothing, look wise, and wait for the dinner-bell. And when my ship comes in, why you sit at the captain's table—savey? Ladd doesn't cater to you."
A shade of annoyance crossed the brow of the elder man.
"The agent has been exceedingly kind to me since I've been here."
"I know," protested Calthorpe. "You brought letters of introduction from the Secretary of War, and——"
"Who was one of my former parishioners, that's all."
"That's all," mocked the impertinent youngster, "and other people of influence, social and political, and you have been ostensibly the agent's honored guest, but Ladd likes you, John; yes, he likes you, just about as much as a burglar likes dodging a search-light. The fact of the matter is that you're an infernal nuisance around here, and when I get ready I'll have no difficulty in kidnapping you and having you all to myself." And the blue eyes laughed impudently into the obvious disapproval of the grave eyes opposite.
"You ought not to make me listen to reflections on my host. By the way, he has asked me to preside at the conference this afternoon."
"Really?" said the other seriously. "What have you to do with it?"