'
'And this man is a ruler in one of the greatest cities in the world! Go
on, Mr. Fleming; who else was there besides Crupper, Smollet, and
yourself?'
The account--two columns and a half--was a bombshell in political New
York the morning it appeared in the _Argus_. Senator Smollet cabled from
Paris that there wasn't a word of truth in it, that he wasn't in London
on the date mentioned, and had never seen Crupper there or elsewhere.
Crupper cabled from Carlsbad that he was ill, and had not been out of
bed for a month. He would sue the _Argus_ for libel, which, by the way,
he never did. The reporters flocked to meet Fleming when his steamer
came in, but of course _he_ knew nothing about it; he had been across
the ocean solely on private business that had no connection with
politics. He knew nothing of Crupper's whereabouts, but he knew _one_
thing, which was that Crupper was too honest and honourable a man to
traffic with the enemy.
Notwithstanding all these denials, the report bore the marks of truth on
its face, and everybody believed it, although many pretended not to. The
division of the spoils aroused the greatest consternation and indignation
among Crupper's own following, and a deputation went over to see the old
man.
Meanwhile, the _Argus_, with much dignity of diction, explained that it
stood for the best interests of the people, and in the people's cause was
fearless. It defied all and sundry to bring libel suits if they wanted
to; it was prepared to battle for the people's rights.
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