He would never again distrust or contradict the existence of that spark of divine goodness which, at the bottom of every nature like a diamond at the bottom of a pit, would live quenchless through the ages to save the soul at last.
"The good dominie and the reformed pessimist were retiring, when the dominie paused, like Senator Coot, to ask one question--the only one he couldn't have answered in advance.
"'Why, my poor man, do you love that rat ?' "The prisoner's face became more brutal with the light of a diabolical joy.
"'Why do I love him ?' he cried.

Then, with a chuckle of fiendish exultation: 'Because he bit the warden.'" The adroit Senator Gruff might have found it hard to show the application of his story.

That, however, was not going to worry the sagacious Senator Gruff.

He reckoned only upon raising a laugh at the anxious Senator Coot's expense which would silence that question-asking personage, who was more afraid of present ridicule, being sensitive, than of future condemnation by his constituents.

The yarn succeeded in winning peals of laughter, and without giving Senator Coot a chance to reply or repeat his poking about to discover the position of Senator Hanway upon the issue of finance, Senator Gruff proposed the health of Mr.Bayard.
"And perhaps," remarked Senator Gruff, "that eminent authority on markets, and therefore upon finance, will favor us with his views on money.