“Nor is it Imperial Caesar alone,” continued Maguire, “against whom he turns his poniard. Not content with one foul murder, he turns against Caesar’s friends. By devilish innuendo, he charges the honorable Mr. Kennedy and myself with bargaining to deceive the American people. I call on him for proof or retraction.”
The convention laughed. Peter rose and said: “Mr. Chairman, I gave a truthful account of what actually took place last evening in the United States hotel. I made no charges.”
“But you left the impression that Mr. Kennedy and I had made a deal,” shrieked Maguire.
“If the gentleman draws that conclusion from what passed, it is not my fault.”
The convention laughed. “Do you mean to charge such a bargain?” angrily shouted Maguire.
“Will you deny it?” asked Peter calmly.
“Then you do charge it?”
Here the convention laughed for the third time. Green shouted “deny it,” and the cry was taken up by many of the delegates.
“Yes,” screamed Maguire. “I do deny it”
Peter turned to Kennedy. “Do you too, deny it?”