He began to be afraid of the effect of Huber's implications regarding the District-Attorney's office. Remembering that his party was in no position to risk putting up a weak candidate, he telephoned to George J. Hallett and was granted an interview: he said he knew of the letters in Luke's possession and knew how Luke came by them.
Hallett, whose office was almost the counterpart of that in which he consulted with his master and Rivington, sprawled in a deeply upholstered chair. He smoked steadily at a cigar, and when the letters were mentioned, he accepted the mention with complete composure.
"Who else knows about 'em?" he frankly inquired.
"Nobody," said Leighton—"unless Huber's been talking."
"He's got 'em, hasn't he?"
"Had them the last time I saw him."
"Anyway, you haven't 'em?"
"No, of course, I haven't."
Hallett took his cigar from his mouth; he looked at the cigar, and from it to Leighton.
"I don't see what use you are to us, then," he said.