He returned Harlan's amazed stare.
"I've been keeping my eyes open down here, Mr. Thornton, and I kept my ears open up in Fort Canibas." His face grew hard. "D—n you, I'll never forget what you did to me! I'm coming right out open with you. I'd like to do you in return. I can do it. But I'll give you a chance; it's for my interest to do so, providing you buy the let-off. If you don't stand by me in that tax rebate, I'll launch the story. What I lose in support I'll more than make up in seeing you squirm. I'm pretty frank, ain't I? Well, I play strong when I've got enough trumps under my thumb."
"Spinney, I've had enough of that kind of talk. What do you mean?"
"Don't you have the least idea?"
"Not the slightest."
"A good bluff! Well, I know about the girl up country! See? It's a bad story to be passed up to another girl. And I know how to get the details to my friend Presson's daughter in time to spoil your ambition in that quarter. Now, how about that?"
They were in one corner of the State-House lobby, and the presence of a hundred men about them probably saved Spinney from a beating there and then. Harlan quivered with rage. He did not grasp the full purport of Spinney's hints. He only understood that the man had grossly intruded on his private affairs. He could not speak. He dared not trust his voice.
"Now do you want to let it go further?" inquired the lobbyist. He felt that the proximity of others protected him.
"I'll meet you alone—I'll hunt you out, and I'll mash that face of yours into pulp!" choked the young man, and hurried away before he lost control of himself. The most he could make out of the episode was that Spinney was seeking cheap revenge by offering insult to his face under circumstances that prevented him from retaliating. He did not understand the reference to Clare Kavanagh. His friendship for the girl was no secret in the north country. That Spinney had made so much account of it by his insinuations was the astonishing feature, in Harlan's estimation.
Fortunately for his peace of mind at that moment, he was not allowed to dwell upon the matter. The Governor's messenger came seeking him. He followed the man into the presence of his Excellency.