Miss Wing hesitated. When she spoke it was with a complete change of tone. “There’s really no use beating about the bush any longer. Everybody in Washington knows what you do for that railroad. Everybody knows that last year you spent more than a hundred thousand dollars for it--right here in this city. And everybody knows that Congressman Briggs is your tool. He is helping you push the bill through the House. But everybody doesn’t know one other fact that I know.” She held her head high and looked at West defiantly. She flushed, and the flowers in her hat trembled. “What may that be?” he asked, quietly. She sank back in her seat and smiled. “If I were to publish an article,” she went on, “showing that you had not only bribed Congressman Briggs, but had taken advantage of your hold on him to make love to his wife, that would make a dreadful scandal, wouldn’t it?” West did not stir. He seemed even to control his breath. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said, in a low voice. Miss Wing smiled and watched him. She admired a man who could take things so coolly. “I’ve suspected for a long time,” she explained, lightly, “and when I saw you drinking all that punch last night, I knew you were losing your head. Wasn’t it strong? I just sipped it. That was enough. Oh, you _were_ amusing! You entertained me all the evening.” West looked at her without a change of expression. He was thinking how pleasant it would be to take her by the throat and choke out her silvery laugh. “You followed me about, then?” he asked. Miss Wing looked injured. “Oh, dear, no--nothing so vulgar. But I saw it all by the merest chance. I happened to be standing near the library door at just the right angle. I saw you threaten Mrs. Briggs. There was no need of hearing what you said. It was all as plain as daylight. Now, what do you propose to do about it?” West roused himself. “Do you realize,” he said, “that if you were to start a story of that sort no one in Washington would believe you?” Miss Wing looked hurt. “Then you want me to publish the article?” she said, reproachfully. “How unkind of you!” “Do as you please about that. It won’t be the first libel that has been printed about me.” “Perhaps you would prefer that I should inform Mr. Briggs of what I saw last night,” she said. “That would be less public, wouldn’t it?” “Tell him,” West replied, with a yawn, “and you’ll get turned out of the house for your trouble. Besides, Mrs. Briggs would deny the story. Then where would you be? No, my dear lady, you’ve made a false start. You’ll have to try your game on a younger hand. I’ve been in Washington too long to be afraid of a woman like you.” The smile had completely faded from his face. He looked like a different man, and much older. “Only, if I were you,” he went on, “I wouldn’t make the mistake of bothering Congressman Briggs. That might be disastrous to your career here.” [Illustration: “‘_I shall give you a few days to think the matter over._’”]