dinner with me to-morrow night. In the meantime I'll see the chairman
of the committee on that bill--one of the so-called 'pork' bills it
is. Possibly from him and some other acquaintances of mine I may learn
something. At any rate, you come to dinner."

So the invitation was accepted, and Captain Cy went back to his own
hotel and his room. He slept but little, although it was not worry over
the appropriation question which kept him awake. Next morning he wrote a
note to Georgianna, giving his Washington address. With it he enclosed
a long letter to Bos'n, telling her he should be home pretty soon, and
that she must be a good girl and "boss the ship" during his absence.
He sent his regards to Asaph and Bailey, but Phoebe's name he did not
mention. Then he put in a miserable day wandering about the city. At
eight that evening he and his Western friend sat down at a corner table
in the big dining room of the Gloria.

The captain began to ask questions as soon as the soup was served, but
Everdean refused to answer.

"No, no," he said, "pleasure first and business afterwards; that's a
congressional motto. I can't talk Atkins with my dinner and enjoy it."

"Can't, hey? You wouldn't be popular at our perfect boarding house back
home. There they serve Heman hot for breakfast and dinner, and warm him
over for supper. All right, I can wait."

The conversation wandered from Buenos Ayres to 'Frisco and back again
until the cigars and coffee were reached. Then the congressman blew a
fragrant ring into the air and, from behind it, looked quizzically at
his companion.