habitant seat, it's the clinching of Confederation.
We'll talk it over when you've won."

"You think I'm going to win?" asked Carnac with thumping heart, for the
stark uncertainty seemed to overpower him, though he smiled.

"If the lie doesn't get going too hard, I'm sure you'll pull it off.
There's my hand on it. I'd go down with you to the mill, but you should
go alone. You've got your own medicine to give. Go it alone, Grier. It's
best--and good luck to you!"

A few moments later Carnac was in the yard of the mill, and in one
corner he saw the man he took to be Roudin talking to a group of
workmen. He hurried over, and heard Roudin declaring that he, Carnac,
was secretly married to a woman whom he repudiated, and was that the
kind of man to have as member of Parliament? Presently Roudin was
interrupted by cheers from supporters of Carnac, and he saw it was due
to Carnac's arrival. Roudin had courage. He would not say behind a man's
back what he would not say to his face.

"I was just telling my friends here, m'sieu', that you was married, and
you didn't acknowledge your wife. Is that so?"

Carnac's first impulse was to say No, but he gained time by challenging.

"Why do you say such things to injure me? Is that what Monsieur Barouche
tells you to say?"

Roudin shook his head protestingly.

"If Monsieur Barouche does that he oughtn't to hold the seat, he ought
to be sent back to his law offices."

"No, I didn't hear it from M'sieu' Barouche. I get it from better hands
than his," answered Roudin.

"Better hands than his, eh? From the lady herself, perhaps?"

"Yes, from the lady herself, m'sieu'."

"Then bring the lady here and let us have it out, monsieur. It's a lie.
Bring the lady here, if you know her."

Roudin shrugged a shoulder. "I know what I know, and I don't have to do
what you say--no--no!"

"Then you're not honest. You do me harm by a story like that. I
challenge you, and you don't respond. You say you know the woman, then
produce her--there's no time to be lost. The poll closes in four hours.
If you make such statements, prove them. It isn't playing the game--do
you think so, messieurs?" he added to the crowd which had grown in
numbers. At that moment a man came running from the en trance towards
Carnac. It was Denzil.

"A letter for you, an important letter," he kept crying as he came
nearer. He got the letter into Carnac's hands.

"Read it at once, m'sieu'," Denzil said urgently. Carna