"All right. Send in your bill any old time," laughed Haines. "The sooner the better. Meantime I'm going to talk to Langdon."
He had started for the door when Carolina Langdon re-entered, followed by her brother Randolph.
"Wait a minute," said Norton, with unexpected quietness. "I wouldn't do what you're about to do, Mr. Haines."
"Of course you wouldn't," sneered Haines.
"I mean that you will be making a mistake, Haines, to tell the Senator what you have learned," rejoined the Southerner, struggling to keep calm at this critical moment when all was at stake. He realized, further, that now was the time to put Haines out of the way—if that were possible. "A mistake, Mr. Haines," he continued, "because, you see, you don't know as much as you think. I wouldn't talk to Langdon if I were you. It will only embarrass him and do no good, because Langdon's money is in this scheme, too, and Langdon's in the same boat with the rest of us."
Haines stopped short at this astounding charge against his chief.
"Norton, you lie! I'll believe it of Langdon when he tells me so; not otherwise."
Norton turned to Randolph.
"Perhaps you'll believe Mr. Langdon's son, Mr. Haines?"
Randolph Langdon stepped forward.