You see, politics are such a dirty business
--all kinds of men get in."
Joe laughed in a way that made Vancouver nervous. He was beginning to know
her, and he could tell when some sharp thrust was coming by the way she
laughed. Nevertheless, he was fascinated by her.
"It is not long since you told me that Mr. Harrington's very mild remark
about extinguishing bribery and corruption was a piece of gross
exaggeration," said Joe. "Why do you say politics are dirty work?"
"There is a great difference," answered Vancouver.
"What difference? Between what?"
"Between saying that the business of politics is not clean, and saying
that all public officers are liars, like the Cretans."
"Who is exaggerating now?" asked Joe scornfully.
"Of course it is I," answered Vancouver, submissively. "If it is not a
rude question, did not that dress come from Egypt?"
"Yes." The garment in question was made of a kind of soft white, fluted
material over a rose-colored silk ground. The raised flutings followed the
exquisite lines of Joe's figure, and had the double merit of accentuating
its symmetry, and of so leading the eye as to make her height seem greater
than it really was.
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