Then it is not so grave after all. A yellow journal sensation is the best Gherst can make of it. And, documents or not, the very medium by which it is made public discredits it. {Starkweather} Trust Gherst for more ability than that. He will certainly exploit them in his newspapers, but not until after Knox has used them in his speech. Oh, the cunning dog! Never could he have chosen a better mode and moment to strike at me, at the Administration, at everything. That is Gherst all over. Playing to the gallery. Inducing Knox to make this spectacular exposure on the floor of the House just at the critical time when so many important bills are pending. (_To Dobleman._) Did Martinaw give you any idea of the nature of the stolen documents? {Dobleman} (_Referring to notes he has brought._) Of course I don't know anything about it, but he spoke of the Goodyear letters-- (_Starkweather betrays by his face the gravity of the information._) the Caledonian letters, all the Black Rider correspondence. He mentioned, too, (_Referring to notes._) the Astonbury and Glutz letters. And there were others, many others, not designated. {Starkweather} This is terrible! (_Recollecting himself._) Thank you, Dobleman. Will you please return to the house at once. Get New York again, and fullest details. I'll follow you shortly. Have you a machine? {Dobleman} A taxi, sir. {Starkweather} All right, and be careful. (_Dobleman makes exit_) {Chalmers} I don't know the import of all these letters, but I can guess, and it does seem serious. {Starkweather} (_Furiously._) Serious! Let me tell you that there has been no exposure like this in the history of the country. It means hundreds of millions of dollars. It means more--the loss of power. And still more, it means the mob, the great mass of the child-minded people rising up and destroying all that I have labored to do for them. Oh, the fools! The fools! {Hubbard} (_Shaking his head ominously._) There is no telling what may happen if Knox makes that speech and delivers the proofs. {Chalmers} It is unfortunate. The people are restless and excited as it is. They are being constantly prodded on by the mouthings of the radical press, of the muck-raking magazines and of the demagogues. The people are like powder awaiting the spark. {Starkweather} This man Knox is no fool, if he _is_ a dreamer. He is a shrewd knave. He is a fighter. He comes from the West--the old pioneer stock. His father drove an ox-team across the Plains to Oregon. He knows how to play his cards, and never could circumstances have placed more advantageous cards in his hands. {Chalmers} And nothing like this has ever touched you before. {Starkweather} I have always stood above the muck and ruck--clear and clean and unassailable. But this--this is too much! It is the spark. There is no forecasting what it may develop into. {Chalmers} A political turnover. {Starkweather}