"I knew, I knew he wouldn't keep his original mind!" exclaimed Hildreth.
"He's holding the wire ... wants to say something to you, Johnnie."
"Yes, Penton, what is it?"
"Only this," his voice replied, as if rehearsing a set speech, "yesterday afternoon I sent a telegram to my lawyer to institute proceedings for a divorce, and I mentioned you as co-respondent...."
"Damn you to hell ... I thought we were going to settle this in the radical way?"
"It's the only way out that I can see. I've stood this business till it's almost killing me."
"Well, is that all?"
"No ... somehow—how, I do not know, the New York Journal has gotten hold of my wire ... it will be in all the papers to-night or to-morrow ... so I advise you and Hildreth to disappear quietly somewhere, if you don't want to see the reporters,—who will all presently be on the way to the flat."
"Damn you, Penton ... needn't tell me about the news leaking out ... you've done it yourself ... now I want you to promise me only one thing, that you'll hold the reporters off for a couple of hours, till we have a good start."