"Not Higgins or any of my men?"
"No, nobody you know. Look out!"
The horse lunged forward. Payne stepped aside. Garman was gone, like a hunter in sight of his quarry.
XXV
The silence that followed was broken by Annette's laughter.
"What very pretty conduct!" she said.
Senator Fairclothe thrust out his chest pompously. Garman being gone he saw himself as the dominant personality present.
"Men of great affairs, my dear Annette, cannot permit attention to the petty details of conduct to disturb their purpose when a crisis presents itself. The truly big man lets his results speak for themselves. Mr. Garman exercises the privileges of the big man that he is. It is a privilege to see such a man meeting and solving a problem."
"Do you know what it is about, father?"
"Not at all. Nor do I concern myself. I know Mr. Garman."