But I had to do
the best I could on short notice."
"You have been very active in the affair," was the Senator's
uncompromising rejoinder.
Governor North continued to be frankly a skeptic and had been expressing
his emotions by wagging his head and grunting. In the line of his general
disbelief in every declaration and in everybody, he pulled his watch from
his pocket as if to assure himself as to the real time; he had scowled at
the Senator's mantel clock as if he suspected that even the timepiece
might be trying to put something over on him. "I must be moving on toward
the State House." He wore the air of a defendant headed for the court-room
instead of a Governor about to be inaugurated. "I must know where I stand!
Morrison, what's it all about, anyway?"
The Governor was convincingly sincere in his query. He had the manner of
one who had decided, all of a sudden, to come into the open. There was
something almost wistful in this new candor. Stewart's poise was plainly
jarred.
"What's it all about?" He blinked with bewilderment. "Why, I have been
telling you, Governor!"
"Do you think for one minute that I believe all that Righteous Rollo
rant?"
"I have been stating my principles and--"
"Hold on! I've had all the statements that I can absorb.
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