"Thorne, I sent for you to tell you to close up Cradlebaugh's--to close
it up at once. If you don't----"
But Thorne's self-possession had come back, and he demanded
fearlessly:--
"And what about you, Murgatroyd? Are your hands clean?"
The tiger leaped into Murgatroyd's face; his eyes flashed fire; the
accuser became the fighter.
"I can take care of myself!" he answered quickly. "I'm talking about
you, now. You are sworn as a counsellor to uphold the law; you have
lined your pockets and built up your career with the coin of suicides,
profligates, drunkards, like Challoner, for instance.
"Yes," he went on, "and there is something more between you and me than
this, Thorne." His voice now dropped almost to a whisper: "You have the
effrontery to pay attentions to----"
Thorne interrupted him, his tone, his glance, his manner leaping at once
into insolence.
"So that's how the land lies, is it? Well, let me tell you something
that possibly you already know. All my life I have had the things I
wanted--all my desires have been fulfilled. I wanted money--I got it. I
wanted power, social and political--I got it. I have never stopped; I
have always progressed. You have already said that I would be Senator of
the United States--if I could. I tell you that I shall! Again, you have
hinted at a woman who is worth while.... Well, I'm going on and on and
on, in spite of you----"
"You are going on to your finish," returned Murgatroyd. "I have only
just begun with you. Before I go further, it may be just as well for you
to relinquish the last two of your desires. I don't demand it--I advise
it."
Thorne glanced uncertainly at the prosecutor, who had spoken with
complete assurance. Thorne recognised the danger. Murgatroyd had been
getting indictments lately, and for every indictment, a conviction.
Thorne did not know what proof Murgatroyd had in his possession, and he
knew of no way that he could find out. Besides, the people liked
Murgatroyd. Thorne believed in compromise, therefore he extended his
hand.
"Look here, Murgatroyd," he said, "you know neither of us can afford to
have things like these talked about. Don't let us sling mud--let's fight
in the open. A fair fight and no favour--let's be decent."
"Why don't you get your ammunition in the open, then?" asked the
prosecutor.
Thorne flared up.
"Why didn't you?"