"No!" replied Brown, sullenly.
"I'm very glad to hear it," Enoch exclaimed. "Mr. Fowler, as far as I am concerned all that I learned from Field regarding you is a closed book and forgotten if you will break with Brown."
"I'd break with him, gladly, if he'd cease to blackmail me about the Field matter," said Fowler. "Good God! How many of us are there who've not committed sins that we never forgive ourselves?"
"None of us!" said Enoch. "Mr. Fowler, why did you break with me?"
"Didn't you do your best to undermine me with the President? Didn't you go to Ambassador Johns-Eaton and tell him—" Here, catching a curious flickering of young Ames' eyelids, Fowler interrupted himself to demand, "Or was that more of your dirty work, Ames?"
"Answer, Ames!" Enoch's voice was not to be ignored.
"Brown paid me for it," muttered Ames.
Fowler groaned and looked at Enoch, who was lighting a fresh cigarette.
"Will you agree, Brown, to an absolute break with Fowler and no come backs?" asked Enoch.
"Yes," said Brown eagerly. "What else?"