"Oh."
Krantz looked out at him from underneath his saurian lids, and blew a smoke ring toward the rococo ceiling.
"Through an option or two I'm rather interested myself," he continued smoothly. "I'd like to see every good man indorse a good thing. I haven't been told what your opinion is." Getting no answer, he added: "Of course we expect to pull the thing off in this winter's session. If not, then the fight goes into your House. Between ourselves, just where do you stand?"
"You don't need to be told that it's a gigantic job."
Krantz's benevolent features expressed blandest regret.
"Now isn't it a pity that misconception should be so widespread?" he exclaimed, apparently to the writhing ornaments of the ceiling. "Isn't it a pity? But it's so often true! Take that street railway bill of yours last winter: how that enlightened measure was denounced!"
Shelby scowled.
"We're talking of Washington."
"They've a lot in common, Albany and Washington."
"I don't want them to have for me."