'_If_ it's true? Of course it's true. Why do I come to you? Because I
want to be friendly with you, that's why.'
Jennie, nibbling the end of her pen, looked thoughtfully across at him
for a few moments, then slowly shook her head.
'If you get me to believe that, Mr. Fleming, I'll not cable a word. No, I
must have an adequate motive, for I won't cable anything I don't believe
to be absolutely true.'
'I assure you, Jennie----'
'Wait a moment. You say you are promised your share in the new deal, but
it is not as big a slice as what you have now. It stands to reason that,
if Crupper is to divide with Smollet's rascals, each of Crupper's rascals
must content himself with a smaller piece. The greater the number of
thieves, the smaller each portion of booty. You didn't see that when you
left New York, and therefore you were afraid of publicity. You see it
now, and you want a sensational article published, so that Senator
Smollet will be forced to deny it, or further arouse the suspicions of
the honest men in his party. In either case publicity will nullify the
results of the deal, and you will hold the share you have. As you didn't
know any of the regular London representatives of the New York papers,
you couldn't trust them not to tell on you, and so you came to me. Now
that I see a good substantial selfish motive for your action, I am ready
to believe you.'
An expression of dismay at first overspread the countenance of the
politician, but this gave way to a look of undisguised admiration as the
girl went on.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219