"What they've done, Tute, is come up here with a dose to fit the palate of every one of you fellows, and you don't know enough to understand that you're being handled. You're going to vote against me, are you?"
"I call on this gentleman to witness that I say you're the best man for the place. You're able, you're efficient, and you have done an immense amount of good for your constituents, and you—"
"But you won't vote for me to-day, eh?" reiterated the old man, pitilessly.
Mr. Tute started again on his line of fulsome praise, but the Duke checked him brusquely.
"That will do, Professor Tute. I like cake. I like it frosted. But I'll be d—d if I want it all frosting. Run up into the hall. Come along, Luke. We'll miss the text if we don't get in."
The last of the stragglers followed them up the stairs.
CHAPTER VI
A CAUCUS, AND HOW IT WAS RUN
The earlier arrivals had pushed the settees of the Fort Canibas town hall to one side. They were piled against an end wall. There were not enough of them to furnish seats for that mob. For that matter, voters seemed to have no inclination to sit down that day. There was barely enough standing-room when all had entered the hall.
Through them, friends and foes jostling each other, the Duke took his leisurely way. Presson was close behind him.