Mr. Ruferton’s face wore an expression of deep concern.  He consulted his watch.  “I came on a special train, Hendricks,” he bluntly declared, “and it’s waiting to take us both back to New York.”

Hendricks laughed.  “My dear fellow, I’ve been speech-making until my throat is raw.  The final days before election mean more hard work.  Meantime I am resting.  It’s the doctor’s stern command.”

Ruferton stood at the gate and faced his host.  He spoke impressively.  “An election-eve scandal threatens you which will probably involve a grand-jury investigation.  If that is a matter of indifference, stay here, by all means, but if your future is in any degree important to you, pack your bag and pack it quick.”

For an instant the former state senator and present candidate stood bewildered.  What traitor had betrayed a false step?  His tracks were all well covered, he thought.  At last he found his tongue.  “In God’s name, what are you talking about?”

Mr. Ruferton held his portfolio tightly grasped in his hand.  In it there were documents to which the other could hardly be indifferent—­but unless all other arguments failed, he preferred reserving them for future use.  He met the stupefied gaze of his protagonist with one of serious apprehension.

“I might as well be entirely candid with you, Hendricks.  I don’t know.  I was sent by Hamilton Burton to bring you back to New York; with specific orders that you were to be at his house not later than nine-thirty this evening.  There he will tell you what you should learn.  I have come in person because he did not care to trust to such a message as could be telephoned or telegraphed.”

“Hamilton Burton?” The Honorable Hendricks was more than ever at sea.  “I have had many dealings with Mr. Burton, but wherefore this sudden and absorbing interest in my welfare?”

Ruferton smiled.  “My dear fellow, perhaps you had better go and ask him.  If Hamilton Burton has turned things topsy-turvy to act as your savior in an eleventh-hour crisis, common sense compels me to infer that he has a reason too interesting to ignore.”

Mr. Hendricks paced the path for a few minutes in the disquiet of intense nervousness, then he spoke with sharp accusation and distrust.

“You don’t know what this matter is!  You have come here by special train to warn me that I face ruin; and you pretend to have no inkling of the nature of my peril!  You speak of veiled threats.  Are you lying to me, Ruferton?”

“Draw your own conclusions.”  The time had come for playing the card of offended sensibilities and Mr. Ruferton turned promptly on his heel.  “Stay where you are and—­read the newspapers.  Burton’s instructions were to bring you back, but I don’t suppose he expected me to kidnap you in your own behalf.  I presume he anticipated your sane realization that he didn’t send for you to smoke a cigar with him.  He presumed you were interested in avoiding disgrace.”