"I see you don't understand," pursued Victor. "No matter. You'll wear a very different face two weeks from now."
"But," said Selma, "exactly what you said you were afraid of has occurred. And now you say you're glad of it."
"I told you I was afraid Dick Kelly would make the one move that could destroy us."
"But he has!" cried Selma.
Victor smiled. "No, indeed!" replied he.
"What worse could he have done?"
"I'll not tell you," said Victor. "I'd not venture to say aloud such a dangerous thing as what I'd have done if I had been in his place. Instead of doing that, he made us. We shall win this fall's election."
Selma lifted her head with a sudden gesture of hope. She had unbounded confidence in Victor Dorn, and his tone was the tone of absolute confidence.
"I had calculated on winning in five years. I had left the brutal stupidity of our friend Kelly out of account."
"Then you see how you can hold meetings and start up the paper?"