"Father, you're not going to leave me to-night?" "Not for many nights," he answered, patting her head; and a moment after, Leslie withdrew. For a brief ten minutes the client and his attorney waited in silence. Suddenly, then, Morehead stepped to a door and opened it, and a man came in. It cannot be said that the newcomer was wanting in self-possession, and his bow to Morehead was one of respect. But that he stood in awe of Wilkinson, his manner while awaiting orders gave ample evidence. "Sit down, Phillips," said Wilkinson. "Have a cigar?" Governor Beekman's secretary helped himself to a cigar, and in fact, made himself quite at home. "Now then, what are we going to do with this man Beekman?" asked the millionaire, his face flushed, his mouth hardening. "He's got to get his--and get it right away." Morehead held up his hand. "Peter V., do you think it advisable to----. Why not let Beekman alone until...." "I'll do nothing of the kind!" snapped back Wilkinson. "Do you think I'm not going to hit him back? I don't want that kind of advice from you, Colonel. What I do want, is for you to tell me the quickest way...." The Colonel swung about and closed his eyes, puffing unconcernedly at his cigar. "I think," he remarked mildly, "that you'd better leave me out of this. Vengeance is not in my line. I'll have to leave that part to you and Mr. Phillips here." "What do you say, Phillips?" demanded Wilkinson. "_Impeachment_," answered Phillips. "Can it be done?" "Easy as rolling off a log." "Good--good as far as it goes; but it don't go far enough. We want to be as hard as we can." "I think that can be arranged without trouble, too." "How will we get him?" "Suppose you leave that to me. You'll back me up?" Wilkinson clenched his fist. "Go the limit, Phillips--I'll back you up. The traitor! And to think that this man Beekman might have had anything he wanted." "The _Reporter_ and the _Star_ will back me, too?" "To the limit." "We'll need public opinion with us, don't forget that, Mr. Wilkinson." "Pshaw, I'll take care of that." "How long are you going to stay in Albany?" Wilkinson raised his hand high in the air, as one about to take an oath. "Until I've done up this man Beekman," was the magnate's answer to the Governor's private secretary. Two days later charges of corruption against Governor Beekman had been presented to the legislature. A petition for his impeachment had been handed up; and a committee of three appointed to investigate the charges and to report. What the charges were was not quite clear upon the first news of the affair; but that they were serious seemed to be conceded. Upon the evening of the very day of the appointment of the committee of three, a woman stepped into the lobby of the Remsen in Albany and exhibited a letter to the clerk. The letter was written upon the private letter-head of Governor Beekman and was addressed to a woman.