"
The other listened with a flicker of the eyelid, which showed his
interest, but feigned lightness in his speech.
"In matters of gallantry, my dear friend, why does Kentucky need a
substitute, or even an ally?"
"Kentucky, in the deference due to so great a man as yourself,
yields to New York! Will you have snuff, Sir?"
"I thank you, I think not. But tell me, what is it that New York
must do?"
"New York, my dear Sir, must transport, man-handle, murder,
wheedle, bowstring, drown, and permanently lose Josephine, Countess
St. Auban,--herself late back from Missouri, formerly of God knows
where. I promise you, this country is only a tinder box, waiting
for that sort of spark. To-morrow--but you remember, my dear
Horatio!"
"But between now and to-morrow is rather a brief period. We have
not yet invented means of traveling through the air. I could not
well carry off this fair lady by main strength. My own plans
unfortunately require some attention. And I think that, even were
the trifling difficulty of the lady's consent overcome, I could not
easily assume the role of savior of my country before the time of
the departure of the next ship for Europe--even granted my enemies,
the Whigs, will give a mission to an ex-Democrat and a Free Soiler
like myself!"
"Not that I should not experience the most pleasureable emotions
both in saving the country, my dear Sir," he saluted with his
glass, "and of saving it in the company of so charming a person as
this young lady is reported to be.
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