" Mornway paused and looked steadily at his friend.
"You're afraid of an investigation--an impeachment? Well, the letter
anticipates that."
"How, in heaven's name?"
"By a plain statement of the facts. My wife has told me that she did
borrow of Fleetwood. He speculated for her and made a considerable
sum, out of which she repaid his loan. The 'Spy's' accusation is
true. If it can be proved that my wife induced me to appoint
Fleetwood, it may be argued that she sold him the appointment. But
it can't be proved, and the 'Spy' won't waste its breath in trying
to, because my statement will take the sting out of its innuendoes.
I propose to anticipate its attack by setting forth the facts in its
columns, and asking the public to decide between us. On one side is
the private fact that my wife, without my knowledge, borrowed money
from Fleetwood just before I appointed him to an important post; on
the other side is his public record and mine. I want people to see
both sides and judge between them, not in the red glare of a
newspaper denunciation, but in the plain daylight of common-sense.
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