Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/275

 He did not fully believe it. He thought that Marcus Aurelius, like the professors of political economy in colleges and universities, left out of account the great factor of human nature, which makes a bad man to do good acts, and a good man to do bad acts, and makes a man good at one time, bad at another, and both good and bad together. Presently he roused himself and said:

"It would be a great thing for any public man if he could lead such a life that every word he said or wrote could be printed."

"Why, have you been writing letters lately?"

"God knows, no! I have always had sense enough for that—to write as few letters as possible."

At that moment Crane felt a thrill of satisfaction—not one line did Governor Sanders have of his.

The two men then began to talk about the political situation generally, and Thorndyke noticed in Crane an exultant spirit, a disposition to brag which had been absent in him at the time of his first rise into prominence, when it might have been expected to develop. The truth was that Crane found the only solace for his moral lapses lay in