The motive behind his fierce desire to destroy her father was at last apparent. To destroy Doctor West was his part in the conspiracy. As for his rabid advocacy of municipal ownership, and all his fine talk about the city's betterment, that was mere sham--merely the virtuous front behind which he could work out his purpose unsuspected. No one could quote the scripture of civic improvement more loudly than the civic despoiler. She always had distrusted him. Now she knew him. Many a time through the night her mind flashed back to him from other matters and she thrilled with a vengeful joy at the thought of tearing aside his mask. It was a long and feverish night to Katherine, and a long and feverish forenoon. At a quarter to two she was in Blake's office, which was furnished with just that balance between simplicity and richness appropriate to a growing great man with a constituency half of the city and half of the country. She had sat some time at a window looking down upon the Square, its foliage now a dusty, shrivelled brown, when Blake came in. He had not been told that she was waiting, and at sight of her he came to a sudden pause. But the next instant he had crossed the room and was shaking her hand. For that first instant Katherine's eyes and mind, which during the last twenty-four hours had had an almost more than mortal clearness, had an impression that he was strangely agitated. But the moment over, the impression was gone. He placed a chair for her at the corner of his desk and himself sat down, his dark, strong, handsome face fixed on hers. "Now, how can I serve you, Katherine?" There were rings about her eyes, but excitement gave her colour. "You know that to-morrow is father's trial?" "Yes. You must have a hard, hard fight before you." "Perhaps not so hard as you may think." She tried to keep her tugging excitement in leash. "I hope not," said he. "I think it may prove easy--if you will help me." "Help you?" "Yes. I have come to ask you that again." "Well--you see--as I told you----" "But the situation has changed since I first came to you," she put in quickly, not quite able to restrain a little laugh. "I have found something out!" He started. "You have found--you say----" "I have found something out!" She smiled at him happily, triumphantly. "And that?" said he. She leaned forward. "I do not need to tell you, for you know it, that the big corporations have discovered a new gold mine--or rather, thousands of little gold mines. That all over the country they have gained control, and are working to gain control, of the street-car lines, gas works and other public utilities in the smaller cities." "Well?" She spoke excitedly, putting the case more definitely than it really was, to better the chance of winning his aid.