Cropley--"

"I don't suspect. I haven't got as far as that! But I want to know exactly
what he means by coming into this state. I have a man out getting me some
facts about what kind of a devil's mess is being stirred up all of a
sudden to-day in politics. Suppose you get under Daunt's hide and find out
whether he wants to _do_ us or do _for_ us, on the water-power matter."

An observant bystander would have perceived a queer sort of crispness in
Morrison's manner from the outset of the interview; the same perspicacity
would have detected something hard under the smooth surface of Despeaux's
early politeness. Mr. Despeaux was not so elaborately polite when he
retorted that he did not propose to play the spy on a guest while eating a
host's victuals.

Mr. Morrison promptly put more of a snap into his crispness.

"Having balanced to partners, for politeness's sake, Despeaux, we'll take
hold of hands and swing, with both feet on the floor. That was a good job
you did in the legislative lobby two years ago for the crowd that called
itself 'The Consolidated Development Company.' You're a smart lawyer and
we had hard work beating you."

"I'll tell you what you franchise-owners did, Morrison! You beat a grand
and comprehensive plan that was going to take in the whole state."

"It did take in a lot of folks for a time, but, thank God, it didn't take
in a few of us who were wise to the scheme. I know why you have called on
me to-day. But you haven't put me on record. Let no man of you think I
have made a pledge or have committed myself till I know what's what!"