"Good Lord!" exclaimed "the boss of the Senate. Is this Washington or is it heaven?"
"It is not heaven, Senator," put in Haines.
"Man alive!" cried Peabody, "I've been in Washington so long that—"
"So long that you've forgotten that the American people really exist," retorted Langdon; "and there are more like you in the Senate, all because the voters have no chance to choose their own Senators. The public in most States have to take the kind of a Senator that the Legislature, made up mostly of politicians, feels like making them take. You, Peabody, wouldn't be in the Senate to-day if the voters had anything to say about it."
The Pennsylvanian shrugged his shoulders.
"And now I'll tell you honorable Senators," went on Langdon, thoroughly aroused, "something to surprise you. I have discovered that you were not working for yourselves alone in the Altacoola deal, but that you intend to turn your land over to the Standard Steel Company at a big profit as soon as this naval base bill is passed. Then that company will squeeze the Government for the best part of the hundred millions that are to be spent."
The Senator sank back in his chair and gazed at his two opponents.
Those two statesmen jumped to their feet.
"Come, Stevens, let him do what he will. We cannot stay here to be insulted by the ravings of a madman," cried the Pennsylvanian. But he brought his associate to a standstill midway to the door. "By the way, Langdon, what is it you are going to do in the Senate this afternoon?" he asked, "You said you were going to make us honest against our will. You know you can't do anything."
Bud Haines turned his face toward the speaker and grinned broadly, to the Senator's intense discomfort.