“They talk about the golden years; it’s really rust,” former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., quipped Wednesday, as he was being squired around the Senate subway in his wheelchair by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

Burns and his wife, Phyllis, have been in town visiting their daughter, who lives in the area. According to Mrs. Burns, the former senator recently fell at their daughter’s home and hurt his wrist and broke a rib — hence the wheelchair.

Still, Burns appeared to be in good spirits and attended Wednesday’s Senate GOP Steering Committee meeting in the Mansfield Room.

The couple had intended to stay in town through Tuesday but apparently plan to leave early.