The words were spoken quietly, and with a certain deliberation that was impressive.
"That is a lie!" cried Councillor Garnett, now aroused to fury.
"Order! Order!" cried the Mayor. "I ask Councillor Garnett to withdraw that word."
"Let Councillor Quirk withdraw his accusation first," suggested another councillor.
"I intend to prove it," answered Denis. "Will Councillor Garnett tell me who is George Haynes?"
"How should I know?" replied Councillor Garnett, doggedly thrusting his hands in his trousers pockets and tilting his chair backwards.
"Who should know better than you? George Haynes is a dummy, a former clerk in your office, who has been made to appear the owner of this land to cover you in this transaction. I have the copy of a deed here that directly proves my statement."
"How did you obtain it?" asked Garnett, when someone plucked his sleeve and thrust a paper in to his hands.
"Turn the tables on him. Ask him why he left Goldenvale; has he been divorced; and what about the funds of the Goldenvale Investment Society which he was accused of embezzling?" he read; but, when he turned to see the messenger, the latter had vanished.