“Set a make-believe thief to catch a real one,” laughed the secretary.  “Very good trick, I think.”

“I’ll make you pay for that!” cried Norton, shaking his fist.

“All right.  Send in your bill any old time,” laughed Haines.  “The sooner the better.  Meantime I’m going to talk to Langdon.”

He had started for the door when Carolina Langdon re-entered, followed by her brother Randolph.

“Wait a minute,” said Norton, with unexpected quietness.  “I wouldn’t do what you’re about to do, Mr. Haines.”

“Of course you wouldn’t,” sneered Haines.

“I mean that you will be making a mistake, Haines, to tell the Senator what you have learned,” rejoined the Southerner, struggling to keep calm at this critical moment when all was at stake.  He realized, further, that now was the time to put Haines out of the way—­if that were possible.  “A mistake, Mr. Haines,” he continued, “because, you see, you don’t know as much as you think.  I wouldn’t talk to Langdon if I were you.  It will only embarrass him and do no good, because Langdon’s money is in this scheme, too, and Langdon’s in the same boat with the rest of us.”

Haines stopped short at this astounding charge against his chief.

“Norton, you lie!  I’ll believe it of Langdon when he tells me so; not otherwise.”

Norton turned to Randolph.

“Perhaps you’ll believe Mr. Langdon’s son, Mr. Haines?”

Randolph Langdon stepped forward.

“It’s true, Haines,” he said; “my father’s money is in Altacoola lands.”

Haines looked him up and down, with a sneer.

“Your money may be,” he said.  “I don’t think you’re a bit too good for it, but your father is a different kind.”

Carolina Langdon stood at the back of the room, nervously awaiting the moment when, she knew, she would be forced into the unpleasant discussion.

“I reckon you can’t refuse to believe Miss Langdon,” drawled Norton, with aggravated deliberation.

“Of course,” stammered Haines, “I’d believe it if Miss Langdon says it’s so.”

The Congressman turned toward Carolina as he spoke and fixed on her a tense look which spelled as plainly as though spoken, “It’s all in your hands, my fortune—­yours.”

She slowly drew across the room.  Haines could hardly conceal the turmoil of his mind.  The world seemed suddenly snatched from around him, leaving her figure alone before him.  Would she affirm what Norton and Randolph had said?  He must believe her.  But surely it was impossible that she—­

Carolina played for time.  She feared the making of a false move.

“I don’t understand?” she said inquiringly to Norton.

He calmly began an elaborate explanation.

“Miss Langdon, this secretary has discovered that there is a certain perfectly legitimate venture in Altacoola lands being carried on through certain influential people we know and by me.  The blood of the young reformer is boiling.  He is going straight to your father with the facts.