“At noon,” smiled Stroude.
“Your information,” Manning said, “is speedy as well as accurate. The time was not determined until seven o’clock this evening. Seven men know it.”
“And their wives,” cut in Laflin, peering at Rhoda.
“We have canvassed the field thoroughly before coming to you,” Manning continued with his air of authoritative spokesmanship. “We have eliminated, for one reason or another, all the men who have been under consideration. Bannister is too old. Maxwell is too radical. Vandringham is too theatrical. Stearns is too variable. Durham is too light. Landreau lacks the necessary tradition. Penn comes from the wrong location. Jarvis jumped the party. The process brings us to you.”
“How about Corliss?”
“I don’t mind telling you,” Manning said, “that Carmichael is fighting desperately for Corliss, and that, without Covinger’s help, he might be able to swing the conference. Mr. Laflin, Senator Wilk, and I have never swerved from our determination to have you. Carmichael has Bennett and Franklin with him. Covinger is the determining vote. You have him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certain. He’s attending on Parker’s proxy. We won that point this afternoon. He’s solidly with you.”
“Even against Corliss? Corliss is from his state.”
“Even against him.”