That evening, Mr. P. was sitting in his room, very busy over a new conundrum for his paper. He had got the answer all right, but to save his life, he could not get a question to suit it. While he was thus puzzling his brains, there came a knock at the door, and to him entered the Hon. JOHN MORRISSEY.
"Good evenin', P.," says JOHN, taking, at the same time, a seat, and one of Mr. P.'s Partagas. "I want you to do something for me."
"And what is it?" said Mr. P., with a benevolent smile.
"Why, you see," said the Hon. JOHN, "I'm very busy just now--the commencement of the season, you know--and I would like you to serve in my place for a while."
"Why, Congress will soon adjourn now!" said Mr. P.
"Oh, yes!" said MORRISSEY, "but I'm on a committee which must serve in the recess. Me and BILL KELLEY are the two chaps appointed as a committee to weigh all the pig-iron that has been imported in the last year, and to see if the gover'ment hasn't been swindled, in either the deal or the play. Now you see that ain't in my line at all, and as soon as I heard you were here, I thought you were the man to take my place."
"I'm sorry," said Mr. P., "but really, JOHN, I haven't the time. It's a sort of committee of ways and means, isn't it?"
"Well," said JOHN, "a fellow weighs, that's true; and the whole business is mean enough. But if you can't take hold of it, we'll say no more about it. Come on down with me to my place and have some supper."
"Your place!" said Mr. P. "Have you a place here?"
"Yes, sir," said the Congressman, "a bully club-house, and it's paid for too; and if you'll come along I'll give you a hearty welcome and some good cigars--and not dime ones, either," added he, throwing away the greater part Mr. P.'s Partaga.