"Don't answer my question," said the lawyer with a fine effect of
patience, long-suffering and milky-mild, "if it in any way discommodes
you."

"It all comes to this," disclosed Banneker. "If the mayor turns on us,
we can't lie down under the whip and we won't. We'll hit back."

"Of course."

"Editorially, I mean."

"I understand. At least the editorials will be a direct method of
attack, and an honest one. I may assume that much?"

"Have you ever seen anything in the editorial columns of The Patriot
that would lead you to assume otherwise?"

"Answering categorically I would have to say 'No.'

"Answer as you please."

"Then I will say," observed the other, speaking with marked
deliberation, "that on one occasion I have failed to see matter which I
thought might logically appear there and the absence of which afforded
me food for thought. Do you know Peter McClintick?"

"Yes. Has he been talking to you about the Veridian killings?"

Enderby nodded. "One could not but contrast your silence on that subject
with your eloquence against the Steel Trust persecutions, consisting, if
I recall, in putting agitators in jail for six months. Quite wrongly, I
concede. But hardly as bad as shooting them down as they sleep, and
their families with them."

"Tell me what you would have done in my place, then." Banneker stated
the case of the Veridian Mills strike simply and fairly. "Could I turn
the columns of his own paper on Marrineal for what was not even his
fault?"

"Impossible. Absurd, as well," acknowledged the other

"Can you even criticize Marrineal?"

The jurist reared his gaunt, straight form up from his chair and walked
across to the window, peering out into the darkness before he answered
with a sort of restrained passion.

"God o' mercies, Banneker! Do you ask me to judge other men's acts,
outside the rules of law? Haven't I enough problems in reconciling my
own conscience to conserving the interests of my clients, as I must, in
honor, do? No; no! Don't expect me to judge, in any matter of greater
responsibilities. I'm answerable to a small handful of people. You--your
Patriot is answerable to a million. Everything you print, everything you
withhold, may have incalculable influence on the minds of men. You can
corrupt or enlighten them with a word. Think of it! Under such a weight
Atlas would be crushed. There was a time long ago--about the time when
you were born--when I thought that I might be a journa