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And yet Madeleine Presson, more than ever before, attracted him powerfully. She had the elements that he had never seen and experienced in womankind. Just at that moment she dominated, for his passion had betrayed him into a rather puerile outbreak. Subtle analysis of the emotions was beyond him. He did not understand. His life had trained him along more primitive lines of selection.
That's been the way with Spinney and his delegates, Harlan." Mrs. Presson took advantage of the merriment to change the subject from politics. It was a topic that did not interest her, and she had learned from her husband's disgusted growlings that morning that there had been trouble the night before. Harlan did not join in the chatter that went about the table.
"So, if I weren't Thelismer Thornton's grandson you wouldn't take any interest in me at all?" he inquired, sourly. "A very impudent and unnecessary question, Mr. Harlan Thornton. I'm afraid your grandfather is right you have stayed in the woods too long." Longer silence. He was more humble when he spoke again. "I don't want you to think I'm what I may seem to be, Miss Presson.
A moment more, and Chairman Presson added a more wrathful admonition to open. "Mr. Thornton, will you kindly inform those people at the door that this is my room, and that I command them to withdraw?" directed General Waymouth. Harlan flung the door open and filled the space with the bulk of his body.
"You never told me a word about the plan to nominate General Waymouth. It was deliberate deceit on your part for what reason I cannot understand." Presson tried to think of a story that would explain and shield him, but the convention had not been an affair to promote clear thinking.
And after that he seemed to be listening to himself talking and wondered at the new man he had become. When it was over, and the ladies rose from the table to follow Mrs. Presson, he tried, feeling guilty for a moment, to remember the look that Linton had given him and to excuse himself as one who had simply shown the proper spirit of revenge.
"You try to leave this room in the shape you're in and I'll have you committed to the insane asylum across the river. The girl has more sense than you've got." While he was speaking Presson came in. He pulled the House bill from his pocket.
The three entered the hotel through the side door, and at the General's request the chairman accompanied him and his young lieutenant to their headquarters. It was near the luncheon hour, and Presson had suggested that he conduct them to Mrs. Presson. A party of men had taken possession of the General's suite. They rose when he entered.
Chairman Presson stood at one side and waited. Harlan Thornton came to him, leading his horse through the crowd. "You have influence with my grandfather, Mr. Presson. You have told me yourself that it's folly to try to send me to the legislature. I'm not fitted for such duties. I am interested only in our business. You have had a chance to talk with him since you left the house.
The Republican Convention was called for the twenty-eighth, in the big hall of the State's metropolis. On the day before, Thelismer Thornton emerged from the back room of headquarters at the State capital, and with Chairman Presson and Harlan journeyed to the scene of the conflict. Before their departure the Duke had been obliged, smilingly, to refuse a request of Mrs. Presson's.
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