He said nothing, and she withdrew a little.
"Doug I'm sorry about getting out of line when I said what I did about the way you handled Tayne, if that's what it is ... I know my business and I know yours...."
He remained silent, and she left his side of the desk.
He tried to think, tried to remember the early days in the courtroom. And he must say something quickly—
"No—no honestly I'm glad you said it. After all, how long have we known each other, Jane?"
"Ever since—ever since your election to the Quadrature almost ten years ago."
"Yes—it's a long time, isn't it? Tell me, had you ever known anything about me before then?"
"Why, only your name, your accomplishments. Your work for the great cause of politics and government as a journalist. I read a lot of your work. I thought there was never a man more devoted to his party since the formation of the Prelatinate itself. You were a great man then just as you are now, Doug—and you're third in worship only to the Prelate General himself."
"Worship ... you mean public admiration, respect...."
"Doug, how can you say such a thing? It's like—well, as if they'd said years ago that they—that they admired or respected their God!"