Forbes at last noticed his visitor's nervousness.
"I suppose you've had a hard day," he said. "Pardon me for not congratulating you sooner on your success. This sheet"—he brandished the Evening Star—"doesn't want anything but to be against everything. It upsets me every evening. But you've done a big thing. I think you should have come clear over to our side, but I dare say you will do that in time. Meanwhile, I'm sincerely glad for your good fortune. You deserve it."
"You're very good," said Luke. His eyes twinkled a little. "I wonder if you know about it—all."
"Only what this mealy-mouthed sheet says. It's absolutely inexplicable to me, Huber, how a paper written by such able men can be so narrow-minded on broad subjects. However, I think they're going to support your party, if they may be said ever to support anything."
"I'm afraid they are rather reticent about the real news," said Luke.
"They never tell anything that weighs against their theories."
"They haven't had a chance to tell this."
Forbes looked puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"It's only just happened." Luke breathed deeply. "I'm engaged to be married," he said. He spoke with an unusual rapidity. "Engaged to be married, and I'd like it to come off—the wedding, I mean—right after the election."