But Peter was telling Jenifer to hasten the serving of dinner. So Leonore had to fight her country’s battles by herself.
“What’s all this to-day’s papers are saying, Peter?” asked Watts, as soon as they were seated.
“That’s rather a large subject even for a slow dinner.”
“I mean about the row in the Democratic organization over the nomination for governor?”
“The papers seem to know more about it than I do,” said Peter calmly.
Le Grand laughed. “Miss De Voe, Ogden, Rivington—all of us, have tried to get Peter, first and last, to talk politics, but not a fact do we get. They say it’s his ability to hold his tongue which made Costell trust him and push him, and that that was the reason he was chosen to fill Costells place.”
“I don’t fill his place,” said Peter. “No one can do that. I merely succeeded him. And Miss D’Alloi will tell you that the papers calling me ‘Taciturnity Junior’ is a libel. Am I not a talker, Miss D’Alloi?”
“I really can’t find out,” responded Leonore, with a puzzled look. “People say you are not.”
“I didn’t think you would fail me after the other night.”
“Ah,” said madame. “The quiet men are the great men. Look at the French.”