"A good mixture," said the Colonel. "I never saw a better...." Durand drew a long breath. "It looks bad--mighty bad, Colonel, for us," he observed calmly. "What do you mean? How bad for us?" insisted Wilkinson, his face still red with the imputation cast upon him. Durand looked at him long and searchingly, doubtful whether to take him into their confidence or not. Presently he said: "It's just this, Brother Wilkinson: If an ordinary jury isn't going to believe a man when he tells the truth, what are they going to do when he deliberately lies?" "But hang it, man," exploded Wilkinson, "I didn't lie; I told the truth." "Yes, Wilkinson, you told the truth in this Ilingsworth case, but it's your own case we're thinking about. There'll be a jury in that, too." "You fellows make me tired," growled Wilkinson. "My case--if it ever comes to trial----" "Oh, don't you worry about that! It will come to trial, all right," put in Flomerfelt, speaking for the first time, and helping himself to a fresh cigar. "It won't if my overtures to District Attorney Murgatroyd are accepted," retorted Peter V. The two eminent counsel lifted up their eyes in mild surprise. "You don't mean to say you're going to bribe Murgatroyd?" came in chorus. "Why not?" "You've got enough indictments against you already, Peter," they warned him, "without having Murgatroyd charge you with an attempt to bribe." "No, indeed, you can't bribe Murgatroyd," spoke up Flomerfelt, with a knowing smile. "Though I'll tell you what, Colonel," he went on, "there is a chap who's not above suspicion on that staff." Morehead winked. "The hold-over from the last administration?" "You mean Leech?" gasped Wilkinson. Flomerfelt nodded. "It's better to hear you say the name than to say it ourselves, Peter," remarked Morehead. "Why, then the case needn't come to trial!" exclaimed Peter V., joyously. "We can get at Leech." "Not in a hundred years!" ejaculated Flomerfelt. "Murgatroyd stands behind these indictments in your case, don't you forget that. And even if Leech tries them, Murgatroyd will be there to see.... The Assistant District Attorney won't be able to move out of the beaten track. Your case will come to trial, never fear." "Well, then, let it come," grunted Wilkinson, a little ruffled by the demeanour of Flomerfelt and his counsel. "But by that time this man Ilingsworth will be dead; we'll shove everything on him." "I don't believe Ilingsworth will be dead," remarked Morehead. "Indeed I do not." "Well, even if he isn't," retorted Wilkinson, huskily, "he's wholly discredited. A man who'll murder may commit other crimes; the jury will believe anything of Ilingsworth by the time we're through with him." Morehead held up his hand.