“All I demand is that you win. I'm not interested in the method you use. But put that cousin of yours out of the demagogue business if you have to shanghai him.”
James laughed. “That might not be a bad way to get rid of him till after the election. The word would leak out that he had been bought off.”
The old buccaneer's eyes gleamed. He was as daring a lawbreaker as ever built or wrecked a railroad. “Have you the nerve, young man?”
“When I'm working for you, sir,” retorted James coolly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“If I've studied your career to any purpose, sir, one thing stands out pretty clear. You haven't the slightest respect for law merely as law. When it's on your side you're a stickler for it; when it isn't you say nothing, but brush it aside as if it did not exist. In either case you get what you want.”
“I'm glad you've noticed that last point. Now we'll have luncheon.” He smiled grimly. “I daresay you'll enjoy it no less because I stole it from the horny hand of labor, by your mad cousin's way of it.”
“Not a bit,” answered James cheerfully.