“That was why you waited for six months to tell me?” he said, scornfully.
“No. I waited because of my second reason. I knew that if you were nominated again the information would be more valuable to me. There!”
“How, more valuable?”
“You public men are so dull at times! It’s simply that I—well, I don’t want to publish the story, though it is a beautiful story. It’s not only a splendid sensation, but it’s a touch of romance in your stupid politics.”
“You want me to pay you not to publish the story—is that it?”
Miss Wing grew serious. “Exactly!”
Briggs smiled coldly. “Well, you’ve come to the wrong man. I’ve done a good many things in my career that I regret, but I’ve never yet submitted to blackmail.”
“That’s a hard word, Mr. Briggs.” Miss Wing glared at Briggs, but he made no comment. “You prefer, then, to have your wife’s name disgraced, perhaps?” she said.
“I tell you the whole story is a lie!”
“You believe that I’ve made it up, do you?”