'Simple as shelling peas. You see, our great pull is the conscientious citizen--the voter who wants to vote right, and for a good man. If it weren't for the good men as candidates and the good men as voters, New York politics would be a pretty uncertain game. You see, the so-called respectable element in both parties is our only hope. Each believes in his party, thinks his crowd is better than the other fellow's, so all you have to do is to nominate an honest man to represent each party, and then that divides what they call the reputable vote, and we real politicians get our man in between the two. That's all there is in New York politics. Well, Senator Smollet threatened not to put up a good man on the conscientious ticket, and that would have turned the whole unbribable vote of both parties against us, so we had to make a deal with him, and throw in the next Presidential election. Crupper's no hog; he knows when he's had plenty, and New York's good enough for him. He don't care who gets the Presidency.' 'And this conference has been held?' 'That's right. It took place in this hotel.' 'The bargain was made, I suppose?' 'It was. The pie was divided.' 'And you didn't get a slice?' 'Oh, I beg your pardon, I did!' 'Then, why do you come to me and tell me all this--if it's true?' Honest indignation shone in Fleming's face. '_If_ it's true? Of course it's true. Why do I come to you? Because I want to be friendly with you, that's why.' Jennie, nibbling the end of her pen, looked thoughtfully across at him for a few moments, then slowly shook her head. 'If you get me to believe that, Mr. Fleming, I'll not cable a word. No, I must have an adequate motive, for I won't cable anything I don't believe to be absolutely true.' 'I assure you, Jennie----' 'Wait a moment. You say you are promised your share in the new deal, but it is not as big a slice as what you have now. It stands to reason that, if Crupper is to divide with Smollet's rascals, each of Crupper's rascals must content himself with a smaller piece. The greater the number of thieves, the smaller each portion of booty. You didn't see that when you left New York, and therefore you were afraid of publicity. You see it now, and you want a sensational article published, so that Senator Smollet will be forced to deny it, or further arouse the suspicions of the honest men in his party. In either case publicity will nullify the results of the deal, and you will hold the share you have. As you didn't know any of the regular London representatives of the New York papers, you couldn't trust them not to tell on you, and so you came to me. Now that I see a good substantial selfish motive for your action, I am ready to believe you.' An expression of dismay at first overspread the countenance of the politician, but this gave way to a look of undisguised admiration as the girl went on.