"And what did he say?"
"Well," he said—"I can't tell you exactly; he was careful not to use definite words; but careful to make his meaning clear."
"What was his meaning, then?"
"He said in effect that he understood you were interested in our Business."
"What of it? That's what I want to know, Forbes. What's my interest in your firm got to do with your standing at the East County National?"
"Oh, he didn't say at first. At first he said he understood we were not sound."
"So you told him he was mistaken and offered to show the books?"
"Of course I did." Forbes's chin shot upward. "I told him that the Forbes firm was one of the oldest and——"
"Yes, yes. And then he mentioned me. How did I hurt the firm's standing?"
"He was really very plausible about that. I must say, Huber, that he rather opened my eyes to a phase of your political activities I hadn't before thought of."