Is that so?"
Carnac's first impulse was to say No, but he gained time by challenging.
"Why do you say such things to injure me? Is that what Monsieur Barouche
tells you to say?"
Roudin shook his head protestingly.
"If Monsieur Barouche does that he oughtn't to hold the seat, he ought to
be sent back to his law offices."
"No, I didn't hear it from M'sieu' Barouche. I get it from better hands
than his," answered Roudin.
"Better hands than his, eh? From the lady herself, perhaps?"
"Yes, from the lady herself, m'sieu'."
"Then bring the lady here and let us have it out, monsieur. It's a lie.
Bring the lady here, if you know her."
Roudin shrugged a shoulder. "I know what I know, and I don't have to do
what you say--no--no!"
"Then you're not honest. You do me harm by a story like that. I challenge
you, and you don't respond. You say you know the woman, then produce
her--there's no time to be lost. The poll closes in four hours. If you
make such statements, prove them. It isn't playing the game--do you think
so, messieurs?" he added to the crowd which had grown in numbers. At that
moment a man came running from the en trance towards Carnac. It was
Denzil.
"A letter for you, an important letter," he kept crying as he came
nearer.
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