honor.”
Gregg smiled also.
“There are always two ways of putting a thing. Why not call it a plain case of give and take? I want something and can pay for it.”
“Not in any coin I have a use for,” said Mornway, pushing back his chair.
Gregg hesitated; then he said: “Perhaps you don’t mean to reappoint Fleetwood.” The Governor was silent, and he continued: “If you do, don’t kick me out a second time. I’m not threatening you—I’m speaking as a friend. Mrs. Mornway has been kind to my wife, and I’d like to help her.”
The Governor rose, gripping his chair-back sternly. “You will be kind enough to leave my wife’s name out of the discussion. I supposed you knew me well enough to know that I don’t buy newspaper secrets at any price, least of all at that of the public money!”
Gregg, who had risen also, stood a few feet off, looking at him inscrutably.
“Is that final, Governor?”
“Quite final.”
“Well, good evening, then.”
IV
SHACKWELL and the Governor sat over the evening embers. It was after ten o’clock, and the servant had carried away the coffee and liqueurs, leaving the two men to their cigars. Mornway had once more lapsed into his armchair, and sat with outstretched feet, gazing comfortably at his friend.
Shackwell was a small dry man of fifty, with a face as sallow and freckled as a winter pear, a limp mustache, and shrewd, melancholy eyes.
“I am glad you have given yourself a day’s rest,” he said, looking at the Governor.
“Well, I don’t know that I needed it. There’s such exhilaration in victory that I never felt fresher.”
“Ah, but the fight’s just beginning.”
“I know—but I’m ready for it. You mean the campaign against Fleetwood. I understand there is to be a big row. Well, he and I are used to rows.”
Shackwell paused, surveying his cigar. “You knew the ‘Spy’ meant to lead the attack?”
“Yes. I was offered a glimpse of the documents this afternoon.”
Shackwell started up. “You didn’t refuse?”
Mornway related the incident of Gregg’s visit. “I could hardly buy my information at that price,” he said, “and, besides, it is really Fleetwood’s business this time. I suppose he has heard the report, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. I rather thought he would have looked in to-day to talk things over, but I haven’t seen him.”
Shackwell continued to twist his cigar through his sallow fingers without remembering to light it. “You’re determined to reappoint Fleetwood?” he asked at length.
The Governor caught him up. “You’re the fourth person who has asked me that to-day! You haven’t lost faith in him, have you, Hadley?”
“Not an atom!” said the other with emphasis.
“Well, then, what are you all thinking of, to suppose I can be frightened by a little newspaper talk? Besides, if Fleetwood is not afraid, why should I be?”
“Because you’ll be involved in it with him.”
The Governor laughed. “What have they got against me now?”
Shackwell, standing up, confronted his friend solemnly. “This—that Fleetwood bought his appointment two years ago.”
“Ah—bought it of me? Why didn’t it come out at the time?”
“Because it wasn’t known then. It has only been found out lately.”
“Known—found out? This is magnificent! What was my price, and what did I do with the money?”
Shackwell glanced about the room, and his eyes returned to Mornway’s face.
“Look here, John, Fleetwood is not the only man in the world.”
“The only man?”
“The only Attorney-General. The ‘Spy’ has the Lead Trust behind it and means to put up a savage fight. Mud sticks, and—”
“Hadley, is this a conspiracy? You’re saying to me just what Ella said this afternoon.”
At the mention of Mrs. Mornway’s name a silence fell between the two men and the Governor moved uneasily in his chair.
“You are not advising me to chuck Fleetwood because the ‘Spy’ is going to accuse me of having sold him his first appointment?” he said at length.
Shackwell drew a deep breath. “You say yourself that Mrs. Mornway gave you the same advice this afternoon.”
“Well, what of that? Do you imagine that my wife distrib—” The Governor broke off with an exasperated laugh.
