The wages received by this great hive of employees are placed at the liberal figure meet and just for skilled and competent labor.  Such of them as are immediately employed about the two Houses of Congress, are not only liberally paid also, but are remembered in the customary Extra Compensation bill which slides neatly through, annually, with the general grab that signalizes the last night of a session, and thus twenty per cent. is added to their wages, for—­for fun, no doubt.

Washington Hawkins’ new life was an unceasing delight to him.  Senator Dilworthy lived sumptuously, and Washington’s quarters were charming —­gas; running water, hot and cold; bath-room, coal-fires, rich carpets, beautiful pictures on the walls; books on religion, temperance, public charities and financial schemes; trim colored servants, dainty food —­everything a body could wish for.  And as for stationery, there was no end to it; the government furnished it; postage stamps were not needed —­the Senator’s frank could convey a horse through the mails, if necessary.

And then he saw such dazzling company.  Renowned generals and admirals who had seemed but colossal myths when he was in the far west, went in and out before him or sat at the Senator’s table, solidified into palpable flesh and blood; famous statesmen crossed his path daily; that once rare and awe-inspiring being, a Congressman, was become a common spectacle—­a spectacle so common, indeed, that he could contemplate it without excitement, even without embarrassment; foreign ministers were visible to the naked eye at happy intervals; he had looked upon the President himself, and lived.  And more; this world of enchantment teemed with speculation—­the whole atmosphere was thick with hand that indeed was Washington Hawkins’ native air; none other refreshed his lungs so gratefully.  He had found paradise at last.

The more he saw of his chief the Senator, the more he honored him, and the more conspicuously the moral grandeur of his character appeared to stand out.  To possess the friendship and the kindly interest of such a man, Washington said in a letter to Louise, was a happy fortune for a young man whose career had been so impeded and so clouded as his.

The weeks drifted by;—­Harry Brierly flirted, danced, added lustre to the brilliant Senatorial receptions, and diligently “buzzed” and “button-holed” Congressmen in the interest of the Columbus River scheme; meantime Senator Dilworthy labored hard in the same interest—­and in others of equal national importance.  Harry wrote frequently to Sellers, and always encouragingly; and from these letters it was easy to see that Harry was a pet with all Washington, and was likely to carry the thing through; that the assistance rendered him by “old Dilworthy” was pretty fair—­pretty fair; “and every little helps, you know,” said Harry.

Washington wrote Sellers officially, now and then.  In one of his letters it appeared that whereas no member of the House committee favored the scheme at first, there was now needed but one more vote to compass a majority report.  Closing sentence: