h herself does not know and cannot tell which of the ones
she returned are genuine and which are copies.

{Hubbard}

Knox never did this.

{Starkweather}

Did Martinaw say whom Miss Standish was acting for?

{Dobleman}

Gherst.

(_The alarm on the three men's faces is patent._)

{Starkweather}

Gherst!

(_Pauses to think._)

{Hubbard}

Then it is not so grave after all. A yellow journal sensation is
the best Gherst can make of it. And, documents or not, the very
medium by which it is made public discredits it.

{Starkweather}

Trust Gherst for more ability than that. He will certainly
exploit them in his newspapers, but not until after Knox has
used them in his speech. Oh, the cunning dog! Never could he
have chosen a better mode and moment to strike at me, at the
Administration, at everything. That is Gherst all over. Playing
to the gallery. Inducing Knox to make this spectacular exposure
on the floor of the House just at the critical time when so many
important bills are pending.

(_To Dobleman._)

Did Martinaw give you any idea of the nature of the stolen
documents?

{Dobleman}

(_Referring to notes he has brought._) Of course I don't know
anything about it, but he spoke of the Goodyear letters--

(_Starkweather betrays by his face the gravity of the
information._)

the Caledonian letters, all the Black Rider correspondence. He
mentioned, too, (_Referring to notes._) the Astonbury and Glutz
letters. And there were others, many others, not designated.

{Starkweather}

This is terrible!

(_Recollecting himself._)

Thank you, Dobleman. Will you please return to the house at once.
Get New York again, and fullest details. I'll follow you shortly.
Have you a machine?

{Dobleman}

A taxi, sir.

{Starkweather}

All right, and be careful.

(_Dobleman makes exit_)

{Chalmers}

I don't know the import of all these letters, but I can guess,
and it does seem serious.

{Starkweather}

(_Furiously._) Serious! Let me tell you that there has been no
exposure like this in the history of the country. It means
hundreds of millions of dollars. It means more--the loss of
power. And still more, it means the mob, the great mass of the
child-minded people rising up and destroying all that I have
labored to do for them. Oh, the fools! The fools!

{Hubbard}

(_Shaking his head ominously._) There is no telling what may happen
if Knox makes that speech and delivers the proofs.

{Chalmers