The maid insisted that it was; that Governor Beekman was on his way up from New York; and that he was expected at any moment. The maid left, locking the door behind her.
Alone in this room the woman settled herself comfortably back to wait for the Governor. She had not long to wait, however, for presently the door opened and three men entered the reception-room. From where she sat she could see them, but they could not see her; and except for their being perhaps a bit unkempt, she noted that they were of the ordinary type of business men.
"I suppose this is all right," she heard one of the men saying.
"Of course it is," said another. "We've got a search warrant from the House, and anyway, we haven't broken in. I'd like to know how you're going to keep a legislative committee out of any place. We've got our rights, you know."
The woman shrank into a corner, fearing that any moment they might find her there. But they merely waited in the outer room, expectantly.
"Wonder what he'll have to say for himself?" queried one.
"There's nothing to it," he returned, "we're on a wild goose chase. Bribery? Nonsense! Beekman's as straight as a die."
"Suppose," said the third, "that we wait until we find out all about it. Suppose----" He broke off abruptly, for someone was knocking at the door; and looking up he saw that two people had entered the room.
When the woman in the inner room perceived who had entered, she could not suppress an exclamation, which, fortunately, however, did not reach the ears of Leslie and her father, who were now bowing to the three committee-men.
"I beg your pardon," said Wilkinson, "but can you tell me when the Governor is likely to return? We----" he smiled awkwardly, "we were summoned by him to meet him here at this hour."
One of the Assemblymen, a New York man, leaned over to his neighbour, and said: "That's Wilkinson." Whereupon, the others rose and bowed, and answered:
"We were told that he'd be here any minute now." And as if in confirmation of his words, the door suddenly opened, and Governor Beekman, with a light but hurried step, came into the room.
"I beg your pardon," he said, when he saw who was standing before him.
Leslie turned to him involuntarily, and half acknowledged his bow; then remembering, she quickly turned away, and looked at her father, fixedly.