Oh, these everlasting politics! That is what it has been all afternoon--high prices, graft, and theft; theft, graft, and high prices. It is terrible. When I was a girl we did not talk of such things. Well, come on, Connie. {Mrs. Dowsett} (_Rising and glancing at Dowsett._) And we must be going, too. (_During the following scene, which takes place around Starkweather, Margaret is saying good-bye to her departing guests._) (_Mrs. Starkweather and Connie make exit._) (_Dowsett and Mrs. Dowsett make exit._) (_The instant Mrs. Dowsett's remark puts a complete end to Mrs. Starkweather's speech, Starkweather, without answer or noticing his wife, turns and interrogates Servant with a glance._) {Servant} Mr. Dobleman has already left some time to come here, sir. {Starkweather} Show him in as soon as he comes. {Servant} Yes, sir. (_Servant makes exit._) (_Margaret, Dolores Ortega, and Rutland are left in a group together, this time around tea-table, where Margaret serves Rutland another cup of tea. From time to time Margaret glances curiously at the serious group of men across the stage._) (_Starkweather is thinking hard with knitted brows. Hubbard is likewise pondering._) {Chalmers} If I were certain Knox had those papers I would take him by the throat and shake them out of him. {Starkweather} No foolish talk like that, Tom. This is a serious matter. {Hubbard} But Knox has no money. A Starkweather stenographer comes high. {Starkweather} There is more than Knox behind this. (_Enter Dobleman, walking quickly and in a state of controlled excitement._) {Dobleman} (_To Starkweather._) You received that telegram, sir? (_Starkweather nods._) I got the New York office--Martinaw--right along afterward, by long distance. I thought best to follow and tell you. {Starkweather} What did Martinaw say? {Dobleman} The files seem in perfect order. {Starkweather} Thank God! (_During the following speech of Dobleman, Rutland says good-bye to Margaret and Dolores Ortega and makes exit._) (_Margaret and Dolores Ortega rise a minute afterward and go toward exit, throwing curious glances at the men but not disturbing them._) (_Dolores Ortega makes exit._) (_Margaret pauses in doorway a moment, giving a final anxious glance at the men, and makes exit._) {Dobleman} But they are not. The stenographer, Miss Standish, has confessed. For a long time she has followed the practice of taking two or three letters and documents at a time away from the office. Many have been photographed and returned. But the more important ones were retained and clever copies returned. Martinaw says that Miss Standish herself does not know and cannot tell which of the ones she returned are genuine and which are copies. {Hubbard} Knox never did this. {Starkweather} Did Martinaw say whom Miss Standish was acting for? {Dobleman} Gherst. (_The alarm on the three men's faces is patent._) {Starkweather} Gherst! (_Pauses to think._) {Hubbard}