The journalist was quick to catch the note of doubt in his friend's voice.
"I hope you're not afraid of a battle," he said, somewhat nettled.
Carlton looked at him a moment before replying. Then he spoke rather deliberately.
"No, Felix; I am not afraid of a battle. I am not afraid of war either. I went through one war, as you know, and I've got some scars on me to show for it. But there is one thing you must not forget. There is hardly ever a battle or a war without a list of killed and wounded."
Conway was disposed to be argumentative.
"That's true," he admitted, "but you will have to admit that it's a glorious thing to die in a good cause."
"It's a glorious thing for the survivors," assented the Congressman, "but I don't know how the killed and wounded feel about it."
"Your bill comes up tomorrow, I believe," he said.
"Yes," responded Mr. Carlton, "and that's what I have been thinking about all the time."