nox, still holding an open letter, re-volves chair so as
to face his visitor. He waits for Hubbabd to speak._)

{Hubbard}

There is no use beating about the bush with a man like you. I
know that. You are direct, and so am I. You know my position well
enough to be assured that I am empowered to treat with you.

{Knox}

Oh, yes; I know.

{Hubbard}

What we want is to have you friendly.

{Knox}

That is easy enough. When the Interests become upright and
honest--

{Hubbard}

Save that for your speech. We are talking privately. We can make
it well worth your while--

{Knox} (_Angrily._) If you think you can bribe me--

{Hubbard} (_Suavely._) Not at all. Not the slightest suspicion of
it. The point is this. You are a congressman. A congressman's
career depends on his membership in good committees. At the
present you are buried in the dead Committee on Coinage, Weights,
and Measures. If you say the word you can be appointed to the
livest committee--

{Knox}

(_Interrupting._) You have these appointments to give?

{Hubbard}

Surely. Else why should I be here? It can be managed.

{Knox}

(_Meditatively._) I thought our government was rotten enough, but
I never dreamed that House appointments were hawked around by the
Interests in this fashion.

{Hubbard}

You have not given your answer.

{Knox}

You should have known my answer in advance.

{Hubbard}

There is an alternative. You are interested in social problems.
You are a student of sociology. Those whom I represent are
genuinely interested in you. We are prepared, so that you may
pursue your researches more deeply--we are prepared to send you
to Europe. There, in that vast sociological laboratory, far from
the jangling strife of politics, you will have every opportunity
to study. We are prepared to send you for a period of ten years.
You will receive ten thousand dollars a year, and, in addition,
the day your steamer leaves New York, you will receive a lump sum
of one hundred thousand dollars.

{Knox}

And this is the way men are bought

{Hubbard}

It is purely an educational matter.

{Knox}

Now it is you who are beating about the bush.

{Hubbard}

(_Decisively._) Very well then. What price do you set on yourself?

{Knox}

You want me to quit--to leave politics, everything? You want to
buy my soul?

{Hubbard}

More than that. We want to buy those documents and letters.

{Knox}

(_Showing a slight start._) What docum