He was a small man physically, with womanish hands and feet, and a beardless face of that prematurely aged cast which is oftenest seen in dwarfs and precocious infants; and his distinguishing characteristic, the one which stuck longest in the mind of a chance acquaintance or a casual observer, was a smile of the congealed sort which served to mask whatever emotion there might be behind it.

Kent had seen little of Meigs since the latter had turned him down in the quo warranto matter; and his guard went up quickly when the attorney-general accosted him in the lobby of the hotel and asked for a private interview.

“I am very much occupied just now, Mr. Meigs,” he demurred; “but if it is a matter of importance——­”

“It is; a matter of the greatest importance,” was the smooth-toned reply.  “I am sure you will not regret it if you will give me a few moments, Mr. Kent.”

Kent decided quickly.  Being forewarned, there was nothing to fear.

“We will go up to my rooms, if you please,” he said, leading the way to the elevator; and no other word was spoken until they were behind closed doors on the fourth floor.

“A prefatory remark may make my business with you seem a little less singular, Mr. Kent,” Meigs began, when Kent had passed his cigar-case and the attorney-general had apologized for a weak digestive tract.  “On wholly divergent lines and from wholly different motives we are both working toward the same end, I believe, and it has occurred to me that we might be of some assistance to each other.”

Kent’s rejoinder was a mute signal to the effect that he was attending.

“Some little time ago you came to me as the legal representative of the stock-holders of the Trans-Western Railway Company, and I did not find it possible at that time to meet your wishes in the matter of a quo warranto information questioning Judge MacFarlane’s election and status.  You will admit, I presume, that your demand was a little peremptory?”

“I admit nothing,” said Kent, curtly.  “But for the sake of expediting present matters——­”

“Precisely,” was the smiling rejoinder.  “You will note that I said ’at that time.’  Later developments—­more especially this charge made openly by the public press of juggling with foreign corporations—­have led me to believe that as the public prosecutor I may have duties which transcend all other considerations—­of loyalty to a party standard—­of——­”

Kent took his turn at interrupting.

“Mr. Meigs, there is nothing to be gained by indirection.  May I ask you to come to the point?”

“Briefly, then:  the course pursued by Senator Duvall in the Belmount affair leaves an unproved charge against others; a charge which I am determined to sift to the bottom—­you see, I am speaking quite frankly.  That charge involves the reputation of men high in authority; but I shall be strong to do my sworn duty, Mr. Kent; I ask you to believe that.”