Two days before the election Michael announced a visitor. When Douglas Briggs heard the name the expression of his face changed so completely that it found a reflection in Michael’s face. “Where is he?” Briggs asked. “In the drawing-room, sir. Shall I ask him to step in here?” “No.” Briggs adjusted the collar of his coat. “I’ll go in there,” he said. As he was about to leave the room he met his wife, entering from the hall. She looked as if she were about to faint. “I saw him as I came down the stairs,” she said. She laid her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Douglas, you won’t be foolish, will you?” He drew her hand away. She noticed that his arm was quivering. “Don’t be afraid,” he replied, impatiently. “I’ll make short work of him, and there’ll be no scene. Think of his coming here!” he added, with a bitter laugh. She followed him into the hall. When he entered the drawing-room he closed the door behind him. West was standing in front of the mantel; he wore a long frock coat, and a pair of yellow gloves hung from one hand. On seeing Briggs he came forward, smiling, and offering his hand. “Glad to catch you in,” he said. “I came over in a tremendous hurry. I----” He stopped. Briggs stood in front of him, looking him sharply in the face, with hands clasped behind his back. “West!” Franklin West let his hand drop. His eyes showed astonishment. “What’s the matter?” he gasped. Briggs went on, in a lower voice: “West, I have something to say to you, and I might as well say it without any preliminaries. I want to tell you that you’re a blackguard.” “What!” West exclaimed. “I have heard from my wife how you insulted her at our house last Spring.” “_Insulted_ her? It’s--it’s a mistake. I never----” Briggs drew nearer West. He looked dangerous. “No. There’s no mistake. My wife isn’t in the habit of lying. Now, I have just one thing to say to you. That is, get out of here. Don’t ever show yourself in my house again. If you do, by God, you’ll pay for it!” West had partly recovered from his bewilderment. “You must be crazy!” he said. “I shall be if you don’t take yourself out of my sight pretty quick.” “You mean to throw me over, then?” “Yes, you and your whole gang. I’ve had enough of you. You thought you owned me, didn’t you?” West did not flinch. “It’s war between us, then; is it?” he said. “Call it what you please, but get out!” West smiled. “Very well, then. I think we understand each other. Now that you’ve got your nomination again you believe you’re strong enough to stand up against us. After we’ve made you, you’re going to knife us. And you make your wife the cloak, the pretext--just as you’ve used her all along!” Douglas seized West by the throat and hurled him to the floor. The door opened, and Helen stood on the threshold, her face white, her figure trembling. “Douglas!” she whispered.