“How about that, Norton?” Peabody asked, turning to the Congressman, who had followed Stevens.

“I corroborate all you’ve said,” remarked Norton.  “I can state positively that Senator Langdon knew that his money was going into Altacoola land.  I will swear to it if necessary,” and he glared bitterly at Carolina’s father, feeling certain that the girl would cling to him as opposed to her parent.

Langdon made a threatening move at the Congressman.

“I consider my riddance of you mighty cheap at the price,” he cried.

“Come, come, Langdon,” fumed Peabody, “I must get away from here to catch the midnight train.  Let’s get through with this matter.  You must realize that you cannot fight me in Washington.  You must know that men call me the ‘king of the Senate.’  I can beat any measure you introduce.  I can pass any measure you want passed.  I can make you a laughing-stock or a power.

“Why, my friend from Mississippi, I can even have your election to the Senate contested, have a committee appointed to investigate the manner of your election, have that committee decide that you bought your way into the honorable body, the Senate of the United States, and on the strength of that decision have you forfeit your seat!  What a pretty heritage to hand down to posterity such a disgrace will be!  Why, the very school children of the future will hear about you as ’Looter Langdon,’ and their parents will tell them how particularly degrading it was for a man of your reputation to drag into your dishonest schemes your son, sir, and your daughter.  For who will believe that this money was not put in these lands without your consent, without your direction, your order?  Did you not sign the mortgage on which this $50,000 was raised?”

Senator Langdon waved his hand deprecatingly.  “I’m learning the under-handed ways of you professional politicians.  I’m getting wise.  I’m learning ‘the game,’ so I know you’re bluffing me, Peabody.  But you forget that the game of poker was invented in Mississippi—­my native State.”

Pressing a button, Langdon summoned a servant and said:  “Send in Mr. Haines.  I guess I’ve got to have a witness for my side.”

“It’s no bluff,” spoke Stevens as Haines entered.  “Peabody can and will break you like a pipestem; he’s done it to other men before you who—­who tried to dispute his power.  But I’ll try to save you.  I’ll ask him to be merciful.  You are not of any importance in the Senate.  We do not need to deal with you—­”

“Then why do you both spend so much time on me?” asked Langdon innocently.  “Why doesn’t Peabody go to Philadelphia?”

“Langdon,” said Peabody, “you know my control of the Senate is no piece of fiction.  But I will forgive your obstinacy, even forget it.  I—­”

“Look here,” cried Langdon, “just because I’m a fat man don’t think that I can’t lose my temper.”  He stopped and gazed at his two colleagues.