"You know in your heart it never works like that."
"Unfortunately," he answered, "my office does not take me into Federal customs, or you might find I was right."
"The administration of the customs of the United States," Piers began, but his wife interrupted.
"Don't explain it, there's a dear," she said, and oddly enough he didn't.
Lydia was delighted with O'Bannon's challenging tone.
"I wish you were," she said, "because I know you would turn out to be just like everyone else. Or even if you are a superman, Mr. O'Bannon, you couldn't be sure all your underlings were equally noble."
"What you mean is that you habitually bribe customs inspectors."
"No," said Lydia, as one surprised at her own moderation—"no, I don't, for I never much mind paying duty; but if I did mind—well, I must own I have bribed other officers of the law with very satisfactory results."
O'Bannon, looking at her under the shades, thought—and perhaps conveyed his thought to her—that she could bribe him very easily with something more desirable than gold. It was Gore who began carefully to point out to her the risk run by the taker of the bribe.
"You did not think of him, my dear young lady."