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An Hour of Defeat

           Mostlyhegazedsteadily,foldedhislowerlipoverhisupperone,andexpressedhisalmostunchangeableconclusionsinslowAddisonianphrases.InthepresentcrisisitwasMr.Averywhohadasuggestiontomake.

           "OnethingthatIthinkcouldbedone,"hesaidtoCowperwoodonedayinaveryconfidentialconference,"wouldbetohavealookintothetheshallIsaytheheartaffairsoftheHon.ChaffeeThayerSluss."Mr.Avery’scat-likeeyesgleamedsardonically."UnlessIamgreatlymistaken,judgingthemanbyhispersonalpresencemerely,heisthesortofpersonwhoprobablyhashad,orifnotmightreadilybeinducedtohave,somecompromisingaffairwithawomanwhichwouldrequireconsiderablesacrificeonhisparttosmoothover.Weareallhumanandvulnerable"—upwentMr.Avery’slowerlipcoveringtheupperone,andthendownagain—"anditdoesnotbehooveanyofustobetooseverelyethicalandself-righteous.Mr.Slussisawell-meaningman,butatriflesentimental,asItakeit."

           AsMr.AverypausedCowperwoodmerelycontemplatedhim,amusednolessbyhispersonalappearancethanbyhissuggestion.

           "Notabadidea,"hesaid,"thoughIdon’tliketomixheartaffairswithpolitics."

           "Yes,"saidMr.Avery,soulfully,"theremaybesomethinginit.Idon’tknow.Younevercantell."

           TheupshotofthiswasthatthetaskofobtaininganaccountofMr.

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