"I mean that it looks like a bit of tricky business on the part of Mr. Carlton and yourself."
Barry's eyes blazed.
"Don't you dare to reflect on Mr. Carlton," he cried. "He didn't know a thing about it. Besides, he defended you before the Committee. Have you forgotten that?"
Joel was mollified.
"That's so. I take back what I said about him. But it looks bad for you."
The return of the bill caused a mild sensation in Congressional circles. Most of Mr. Carlton's associates accepted the explanation by the young page. But a number of others, who desired to make political capital out of the incident, magnified its importance and tried to make it appear that the Congressman had been guilty of the folly of stealing his own bill.
When Barry heard this he was very much perturbed. He hurried to the office of his benefactor.
"I can't tell you how badly I feel, Mr. Carlton," he said; "isn't there anything I can do to make reparation for my folly?"
"No," was the mild reply, "you can do nothing more than you have done. It will be a nine days' wonder and after that it will be forgotten."
"I'll not forget it very soon," said the boy, soberly.