Theft Part 21

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 fas.h.i.+on.

{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 doc.u.ments and letters.

{Knox}

(_Showing a slight start._) What doc.u.ments and letters?

{Hubbard}

You are beating around the bush in turn. There is no need for an honest man to lie even--

{Knox}

(_Interrupting._) To you.

{Hubbard}

(_Smiling._) Even to me. I watched you closely when I mentioned the letters. You gave yourself away. You knew I meant the letters stolen by Gherst from Starkweather's private files--the letters you intended using to-morrow.

{Knox}

Intend using to-morrow.

{Hubbard}

Precisely. It is the same thing. What is the price? Set it.

{Knox}

I have nothing to sell. I am not on the market.

{Hubbard}

One moment. Don't make up your mind hastily. You don't know with whom you have to deal. Those letters will not appear in your speech to-morrow. Take that from me. It would be far wiser to sell for a fortune than to get nothing for them and at the same time not use them.

(_A knock at door to right startles Hubbard._)

{Knox}

(_Intending to say, "Come in"_) Come--

{Hubbard}

(_Interrupting._) Hush. Don't. I cannot be seen here.

{Knox}

(_Laughing._) You fear the contamination of my company. (_The knock is repeated._)

{Hubbard}

(_In alarm, rising, as Knox purses his lips to bid them enter._) Don't let anybody in. I don't want to be seen here--with you.

Besides, my presence will not put you in a good light.

{Knox}

(_Also rising, starting toward door._) What I do is always open to the world. I see no one whom I should not permit the world to know I saw.