“One moment, please.  If you hang up the receiver, you will regret it.  I wish you no ill, Mrs. Bennington.  If it were possible I should like to talk with you personally, for this matter deeply concerns your future happiness.  I can not call; I have been ordered out of your husband’s house.  It lies in your power to influence Warrington to drop his political ambition.  Information has come to my hand that would not look very well in the newspapers.  It is in my power to stop it, but I promise not to lift a hand if you refuse.”

“I not only refuse, but I promise to repeat your conversation to my husband this very night.”  With that Mrs. Jack hung up the receiver.  She rose, pale and terribly incensed.  The low fellow!  How dared he, how dared he!  “Patty!” The call brooked no dallying.

The music ceased.  Patty came out, blinking.

“You called me, Kate?”

“Patty, McQuade has been calling me up on the telephone.”

“Who?”

“McQuade, McQuade!  He says that if I do not influence Mr. Warrington to withdraw his name—­Did you ever hear of such a thing?  I am furious!  What can it mean?  He says he has heard something about me which he can suppress but will not if I—­Why, Patty, what shall I do?  What shall I do?” She crushed her hands together wildly.

“Tell John,” said Patty sensibly.

“John?  He would thresh McQuade within an inch of his life.”

“Tell Warrington, then.”

“He would do the same as John.  But what can the wretch have found?  God knows, Patty, I have always been a good, true woman. ...  Think of that man’s telephoning me!”

Patty ran to her side and flung her arms about her brother’s wife.  Patty loved her.

“Don’t you bother your head, darling.  It can’t be anything but a political dodge; it can’t be anything serious.  McQuade is low enough to frighten women, but don’t let him frighten you.  I know he lies,” said the loyal Patty.  “And now that I think it over, it would be best to say nothing to John or Richard.  Fisticuffs would get into the papers, and it’s my opinion that’s just what this man McQuade wants.  He could swear to a thousand lies, if the matter became public.  But oh!” clenching her hands fiercely, “I’d give a year of my life to see John thresh him.  But you say nothing; let us wait and see.”

Wise Patty!

At that very moment McQuade sat swinging in his swivel-chair.  There was a smile of satisfaction on his face.

“That’ll bring ’em,” he said aloud, though he was alone.  “That’ll bring ’em both up here, roaring like lions.  They’ll muss up the furniture, and then I can tell the reporters all about it.  Even Walford can’t object this time.”

He rubbed his hands together like Shylock at the thought of his pound of flesh.  He had waited a long time.  They had ordered him, McQuade. who held the city in his hand—­they had ordered him out of the house.  Not a grain of mercy, not half a grain.  Two birds with one stone.  He was shrewd for all his illiteracy.  He knew women passably well.  This one would tell her husband, who would seek for immediate vengeance.