to see you, Mr. Polden," he said, glancing at the editor's
card. "I have already had some conversation with our young friend there,"
he added, glancing towards the reporter. "What can I have the pleasure of
doing for you?"

Mr. Polden produced a sheet of proofs from his pocket. He passed them
over to Mannering.

"I should like you to examine these, sir," he said.

"In type already!" Mannering remarked, calmly.

"In proof for our evening's issue," Polden answered.

Mannering read them through.

"It will cost you several thousand pounds!" he said.

"Then the money will be well spent," Polden answered. "No one has a
higher regard for you politically than I have, Mr. Mannering, but we
don't want you as member for West Leeds. That's all!"

"It happens," Mannering said, "that I am particularly anxious to sit for
West Leeds."

"You will go on--in the face of this?" the editor asked Mannering.

"Yes, and with the suit for libel which will follow," Mannering answered.

The editor shrugged his shoulders.

"Do me the favour to believe, Mr. Mannering," he said, "that we have not
gone into this matter blindfold. We had a preliminary intimation as to
this affair from a person whose word carries considerable weight, and our
investigations have been searching. I will admit that the disappearance
of the man Parkins is a little awkward for us, but we have ample
justification in publishing his story."

"I trust for your sakes that the law courts will support your views,"
Mannering said, coldly. "I scarcely think it likely."

"Mr. Mannering," Polden said, "I quite appreciate your attitude, but do
you really think it is a wise one? I very much regret that it should have
been our duty to unearth this unsavoury story, and having unearthed it,
to use it. But you must remember that the issue on hand is a great one. I
belong to the Liberal party and the absolute Free Traders, and I consider
that for this city to be represented by any one who shows the least
indication of being unsafe upon this question would be a national
disaster and a local disgrace. I want you to understand, therefore, that
I am not playing a game of bluff. The proofs you hold in your hand have
been set and corrected. Within a few hours the story will stand out in
black and white. Are you prepared for this?"

Mannering shrugged his shoulders.

"I am not prepared to resign my candidature, if that is what you mean,"
he said. "I presume that nothing short of