almost as though he were addressing another and more distant
audience. "And," he continued, his voice still soaring, "even if my
own family suffer, even if I suffer, even if I lose political
promotion, those laws I will enforce!" In the more conventional
tone of every-day politeness, he added: "May I speak to you
outside, Mrs. Earle?"

But, as in silence that lady descended the stairs, the district
attorney seemed to have forgotten what it was he wished to say.

It was not until he had seen his chauffeur arouse himself from
apparently deep slumber and crank the car that he addressed her.

"That girl," he said, "had better go back to bed. My men are all
around this house and, until the police come, will detain her."

He shook the jewelled fingers of Mrs. Earle warmly. "I thank you,"
he said; "I know you meant well. I know you wanted to help me,
but"--he shrugged his shoulders--"my duty!"

As he walked down the driveway to his car his shoulders continued
to move.

But Mrs. Earle did not wait to observe this phenomenon. Rid of his
presence, she leaped, rather than ran, up the stairs and threw open
the door of her office.

As she entered, two men followed her. One was a young man who held
in his hand an open note-book, the other was Tim Meehan, of
Tammany. The latter greeted her with a shout.