The
hour was late. Darkness presently must enshroud the room. Even
now the shadows fell heavy upon the lofty portraits, the rich
furnishings, the mixed assemblage of somewhat hodgepodge
decorations. Twice an ancient colored man had appeared at the door
with lighted taper, as though to offer better illumination, but
each time the master of the place had waved him away, as though
unwilling to have present a witness even so humble as he. Through
the door, thus half opened, there might have been seen in the hall
two silent and motionless figures, standing guard.
Obviously the persons here present were of importance. It was
equally obvious that they sought no intrusion. Why, then, in a
meeting so private and so serious, should there come a remark upon
a topic certainly not a matter of state in the usual acceptance of
the term? Why should the leader have been concerned over the
slight matter of a woman's late presence here in Washington?
As though to question his associates, the speaker turned his glance
down the long table, where sat figures, indistinct in the gathering
gloom.
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