“I had more faith than you in human nature, that’s all.”  She paused a moment, and then added:  “Personally, you know, I have always rather disliked him.”

“Oh, I never doubted your disinterestedness.  But you are not going to turn against your candidate, are you?”

She hesitated.  “I am not sure; circumstances alter cases.  When you made Fleetwood Attorney-General two years ago he was the inevitable man for the place.”

“Well—­is there a better one now?”

“I don’t say there is—­it’s not my business to look for him, at any rate.  What I mean is that at that time Fleetwood was worth risking anything for—­now I don’t know that he is.”

“But, even if he were not, what do I risk for him now?  I don’t see your point.  Since he didn’t cost me my re-election, what can he possibly cost me now I’m in?”

“He’s immensely unpopular.  He will cost you a great deal of popularity, and you have never pretended to despise that.”

“No, nor ever sacrificed anything essential to it.  Are you really asking me to offer up Fleetwood to it now?”

“I don’t ask you to do anything—­except to consider if he isessential.  You said you were over-tired and wanted to bring a fresh mind to bear on the other appointments.  Why not delay this one too?”

Mornway turned in his chair and looked at her searchingly.  “This means something, Ella.  What have you heard?”

“Just what you have, probably, but with more attentive ears.  The very record you are so proud of has made George Fleetwood innumerable enemies in the last two years.  The Lead Trust people are determined to ruin him, and if his reappointment is attacked you will not be spared.”

“Attacked?  In the papers, you mean?”

She paused.  “You know the ‘Spy’ has always threatened a campaign.  And he has a past, as you say.”

“Which was public property long before I first appointed him.  Nothing could be gained by raking up his old political history.  Everybody knows he didn’t come to me with clean hands, but to hurt him now the ‘Spy’ would have to fasten a new scandal on him, and that would not be easy.”

“It would be easy to invent one!”

“Unproved accusations don’t count much against a man of such proved capacity.  The best answer is his record of the last two years.  That is what the public looks at.”

“The public looks wherever the press points.  And besides, you have your own future to consider.  It would be a pity to sacrifice such a career as yours for the sake of backing up even as useful a man as George Fleetwood.”  She paused, as if checked by his gathering frown, but went on with fresh decision:  “Oh, I’m not speaking of personal ambition; I’m thinking of the good you can do.  Will Fleetwood’s reappointment secure the greatest good of the greatest number, if his unpopularity reacts on you to the extent of hindering your career?”