“Nor in me,” stated the lawyer grimly. “I don’t need his confidence to perceive his plans.”
“What do you believe them to be?”
No glimmer of a smile appeared on the visage of Judge Enderby as he countered, “Am I talking with a representative of The Patriot or—”
“All right,” laughed Banneker. “Touché! Assume that Marrineal has political ambitions. Surely that lies within the bounds of propriety.”
“Depends on how he pushes them. Do you read The Patriot, Banneker?”
The editor of The Patriot smiled.
“Do you approve its methods in, let us say, the political articles?”
“I have no control over the news columns.”
“Don’t answer my question,” said the lawyer with a fine effect of patience, long-suffering and milky-mild, “if it in any way discommodes you.”
“It all comes to this,” disclosed Banneker. “If the mayor turns on us, we can’t lie down under the whip and we won’t. We’ll hit back.”