Mr.Gwynn, you may be sure, has nothing novel to propose; wherefore at this crisis he gives a dinner, as doubtless did Nero and Moses and Noah and Adam and others of the mighty dead on similar occasions in their day.
Mr.Gwynn's dinner began with Senator Gruff.

This wise man, with the sanction of Senator Hanway, intimated to Richard the uses of such a festival.

Mr.Gwynn was not in politics; his dinner table would be neutral ground.

When therefore some fiery orator, carefully primed and cocked, suddenly exploded into eloquent demands that Senator Hanway offer himself for the White House, subject of course, as the phrase is, to the action of his party's convention thereafter to assemble, it would have a look of spontaneity that was of prime importance.

No other could do this so well as Mr.Gwynn; no other table would so escape that charge of personal interest which the friends of Governor Obstinate might be expected to make.