“Part of it is to establish, and maintain, decent standards of public service in this town.”
“Don’t hide behind that hypocritical pretence! I’ve heard about you. I know the sort of man you are. You saw a safe chance for a yellow story for your yellow newspaper, a safe chance to gain prominence by yelping at the head of the pack. If he had been a rich man, if he had had a strong political party behind him, would you have dared assail him as you have? Never! Oh, it was brutal—infamous—cowardly!”
There was an angry fire behind the editor’s thick glasses, and his square chin thrust itself out. He took a step nearer.
“Listen to me!” he commanded in a slow, defiant voice. “Your opinion is to me a matter of complete indifference. I tell you that a man who betrays his city is a traitor, and that I would treat an old traitor exactly as I would treat a young traitor, I tell you that I take it as a sign of an awakening public conscience when reputable lawyers refuse to defend a man who has done what your father has done. And, finally, I predict that, try as you may, you will not be able to find a decent lawyer who will dare to take his case. And I glory in it, and consider it the result of my work!” He bowed to her. “And now, Miss West, I wish you good afternoon.”
She stood quivering, gasping, while he crossed to the door. As his hand fell upon the knob she sprang forward.
“Wait!” she cried. “Wait! He has a lawyer!”
He paused.
“Indeed! And whom?”
“One who is going to make you take back every cowardly word you have printed!”
“Who is it, Katherine?” It was her father who spoke.