human
You see, he began, explanatory-wise,
gpt
I've just found out the way to do it. None of these big fellows, these cabinet officers, know me except as an applicant. Now, the way to do this thing is to meet 'em fust sociably; wine 'em and dine 'em. Why, sir, --he dropped into the schoolmaster again here,--
human
I had two cabinet ministers, two judges, and a general at my table last night.
gpt
On YOUR invitation?
human
Dear, no! all I did was to pay for it. Tom Soufflet gave the dinner and invited the people. Everybody knows Tom. You see, a friend of mine put me up to it, and said that Soufflet had fixed up no end of appointments and jobs in that way. You see, when these gentlemen get sociable over their wine, he says carelessly, 'By the way, there's So-and-so--a good fellow--wants something; give it to him.' And the first thing you know, or they know, he gets a promise from them. They get a dinner--and a good one--and he gets an appointment.
gpt
But where did you get the money?
human
Oh, --he hesitated,--
gpt
I wrote home, and Fanny's father raised fifteen hundred dollars some way, and sent it to me. I put it down to political expenses. He laughed a weak, foolish laugh here, and added,
human
As the old man don't drink nor smoke, he'd lift his eyebrows to know how the money goes. But I'll make it all right when the office comes--and she's coming, sure pop.