Mr. Converse’s secretary prefaced that call by a telephoned request for an appointment, and therefore Mr. Peter Briggs led them directly into the presence of the colonel.

“This is my friend and law partner, Mr. Thornton Bristol,” said Converse, apparently and blandly unconscious that he was tossing at the magnate something much in the nature of a bomb.

Colonel Dodd came forward in his chair, his hands clutching the carved mahogany of the desk in front of him.

“Oh, I beg your pardon, Colonel,” purred Mr. Converse, amiably.  “I forget that you are not as familiar with Mr. Bristol’s identity as I am.  You have known him merely as a stranger who has called himself Walker Farr.”

“Yes, and he has registered himself on the voting-lists as Walker Farr,” blustered Colonel Dodd.  “Mr. Converse, something will drop in your camp before long—­and it won’t be rose-leaves!”

Mr. Converse fixed a penetrating gaze on the angry man.

“Colonel,” he said, with meaning, “you are probably well aware that in politics many things are done for a certain purpose—­and many of those things are a bit off color so far as the strict law is concerned.  If you particularly care about digging up the past of politics in this state I will come with my own little shovel and assist with great pleasure.”

“You’re making an ass of me with this peek-a-boo business.”

“Mr. Bristol,” continued the nominee, with composure, “after long study abroad and at home has devoted himself enthusiastically to study in sociology and economics, and has preferred to gain his knowledge about conditions by first-hand observation.  He came into this state in pursuit of his object, and by force of circumstances was drawn into our state upheaval.”

“Much more deeply than I intended to be drawn, Colonel Dodd,” stated the young man, with dignity.  “I think you will remember that I said as much to you in an interview we had.  I called myself a Voice, if you will recollect, and humbly begged you to attend to certain reforms.  Your refusal, and the manner with which you refused, rather forced me into your affairs.”

“And I give you warning right here and now,” blustered the colonel, “that I’m going to force myself into your affairs.  I’m going to have you investigated from puppyhood to the present, Mr. Whatever-your-name is.”

“We may as well issue general warnings—­all of us,” said Mr. Converse.  “I have prepared a statement for the newspapers regarding my friend, Mr. Bristol, and he will add a statement of his own relative to his project in regard to water districts.  If you care to malign Mr. Bristol on the heels of that, Colonel, you may go ahead.  But if you choose weapons of that sort in the conduct of this campaign we shall be forced to use a few cudgels of our own—­for instance, we might be able to give the people considerable information as to how the state departments have been managed under your general direction.  The funds of the state treasury—­”