Kahn was baffled, but he was cleverer than Murtha and did not show it.

“Surely,” he urged, “you must realize that it is not worth your while at such a critical time for yourself to waste energies on a case when there are so many more profitable things that you could do.  The fact is that I would be the last one to propose anything that was not open and above board and to our mutual advantage.  There must be some way in which we can reach an agreement which will be satisfactory to all parties in interest, sir.”

“Kahn,” repeated Carton a little testily, “how often must I repeat to you and your people that I am not going to compromise this case in any shape, form, or manner?  I am going to fight it out on the lines I have indicated if I have to disrupt this entire office to get men to do it.  I have plenty to do seeking re-election, but my first duty is to act as public prosecutor in the office to which I have been already elected.  Otherwise, it would be a poor recommendation to the people to return me to the same position.  No, you are merely wasting your time and ours talking compromise.”

Kahn had been surveying Carton keenly, now and then taking a shifty glance at Kennedy and myself.

As Carton rapped out the last words, as if in the nature of an ultimatum, Kahn gazed at him in amazement.  Here was a man whom he knew he could neither bribe, bully, or bulldoze.

“You must consider this, too,” he added pointedly.  “There has been a good deal of mud-slinging in this campaign.  We may find it necessary to go back into the antecedents and motives of those who represent the people in this case.”

It was a subtle threat.  Just what it implied I could not even guess, nor did Carton betray anything by look or word.  Carton had voluntarily placed himself in the open and in a position from which he could not retreat.  Evidently, now, he was willing to force the fight, if the other side would accept the issue.  It meant much to him but he did not balk at it.

“No, Kahn,” he repeated firmly, “no compromise.”

Kahn drew back a bit and hastily scanned the face of the prosecutor.  Evidently he saw nothing in it to encourage him.  Yet he was too smooth to let his temper rise, as Murtha had.  By the same token I fancied him a more dangerous opponent.  There was something positively uncanny about his assurance.

Kahn rose slowly.  “Then it is war—­without quarter?” asked Kahn shrewdly.

“War—­without quarter,” repeated Carton positively.

He withdrew quietly, with an almost feline tread, quite in contrast with the bluster of Murtha.  I felt for the first time a sort of sinking sensation, as I began to realize the varied character of the assault that was preparing.

Not so, Carton and Kennedy.  It seemed that every event that more clearly defined our position and that of our opponents added zest to the fight for them.  And I had sufficient confidence in the combination to know that their feelings were justified.