"Exactly! I don't need that advice, Corson, but I do need your support. I shall go ahead strictly according to the constitution and the statutes." "I am glad to hear you say that, Governor," stated Morrison. "Did you expect that I was going to join you and your mob of lawbreakers?" "Your explicit statement pleases me, I say. Shall you follow the constitution absolutely, in every detail?" "Absolutely! In every detail." "Right down to the last technical letter of it?" "Good gad! what do you mean by asking me such fool questions?" "I'm getting a direct statement from you on the point. For the record!" He pointed to the stenographer. "I shall observe the constitution of this state to the last letter of it, absolutely, undeviatingly. And now, as Governor of this state, I shall proceed to exert my authority. Put that statement in the record! I order you to leave the State House immediately. Record that, too! Otherwise I shall prefer charges before the courts that will put you in state prison, Morrison!" "Do you know exactly the provisions of the constitution relating to your office, sir?" "I do." "Don't you realize that, according to the technical stand you take, you have no more official right in this Capitol than I have, just now?" His Excellency's silence, his stupefaction, suggested that his convictions as to Morrison's lunacy were finally clinched. "The constitution, that you have invoked, expressly provides that a Governor's term of office expires at midnight, on the day preceding the assembling of the first session of the legislature. You will be Governor in the morning at ten-thirty o'clock, when you take your oath before the joint session. But by your own clock up there you ceased to be Governor of this state five minutes ago!" Morrison drawled that statement in a very placid manner. His forefinger pointed to the clock on the wall of the Executive Chamber. Governor North did know the constitution, even if he did not know the time o' night until his attention had been drawn to it. He was disconcerted only for a moment; then he snorted his disgust, roused by this attempt of a tyro to read him a lesson in law. Senator Corson expressed himself. "Don't bother us with such nonsense! Such a ridiculous point has never been raised." "But this is a night of new wrinkles, as we have already agreed," insisted the mayor of Marion. "I'm right along with the Governor, neck and neck, in his observance of the letter of the law." "Well, then, we'll stick to the letter," snapped His Excellency. "I have declared this State House under martial law. The adjutant-general, here, is in command of the troops and the situation." "I'm glad to know that. I'll talk with General Totten in a moment!" Again Mac Tavish came trotting past Rellihan. Morrison snatched away the telegram that his agent proffered; but the master demanded news before proceeding to open the missive.