It was nevertheless nearly ten when he reached her father's
house, so late that the family had dispersed for the
night. Yet he had the hardihood to ring, and the hour
blessed them both, for Advena on the stair, catching who
knows what of presage out of the sound, turned, and found
him at the threshold herself.
CHAPTER XXXIII
"I understand how you must feel in the matter, Murchison,
said Henry Cruickshank. "It's the most natural thing in
the world that you should want to clear yourself definitely,
especially as you say, since the charges have been given
such wide publicity. On the other hand, I think it quite
possible that you exaggerate the inference that will be
drawn from our consenting to saw off with the other side
on the two principal counts."
"The inference will be," said Lorne "that there's not a
pin to choose between Winter's political honesty and my
own. I'm no Pharisee, but I don't think I can sit down
under that. I can't impair my possible usefulness by
accepting a slur upon my reputation at the very beginning."
"Politics are very impersonal. It wouldn't be remembered
a year."
"Winter of course," said young Murchison moodily, "doesn't
want to take any chances. He knows he's done for if we
go on. Seven years for him would put him pretty well out
of politics.
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