The stenographer glanced toward her employer. The latter nodded, whereupon she gathered a few stray leaves of paper and departed. Bob looked after her until the door had closed behind her. Then, quite deliberately, he made a tour of the office, trying doors, peering behind curtains and portières. He ended at the desk, to find Baker's eye fixed on him with sardonic humour. "Melodramatic, useless—and ridiculous," he said briefly.
"If I have any evidence to give, it will be in court, not in a private office," replied Bob composedly.
"What do you want?" demanded Baker.
"I have come this far solely and simply to get a piece of information at first hand. I was told you had threatened to become a blackmailer, and I wanted to find out if it is true?"
"In a world of contrary definitions, it is necessary to come down to facts. What do you mean by blackmailer?"
"It has been told me that you intend to aid criminal proceedings against Mr. Welton in regard to the right-of-way trouble and the 'sugaring' of Plant."
"Well?"
"And that in order to evade your own criminal responsibility in the matter you intended to turn state's evidence."
"Well?" repeated Baker.
"It seemed inconceivable to me that a man of your social and business standing would not only confess himself a petty criminal, but one who shelters himself by betrayal of his confederate."