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.
Shackwell, leaning against the mantelpiece, looked down into the
embers. "I didn't say the 'Spy' meant to accuse _you_ of having sold
the office."
Mornway stood up slowly, his eyes on his friend's averted face. The
ashes dropped from his cigar, scattering a white trail across the
carpet which had excited Mrs. Nimick's envy.
"The office is in my gift. If I didn't sell it, who did?" he demanded.