"Were any pledges made on UGG classic short our part?" queried Enderby.
     Banneker replied with some spirit: "Am I talking with counsel under retainer or with a personal friend?"
     "Quite right. I apologize," said the imperturbable Enderby. "Go on."
     "It isn't the money loss that counts, so much as the slap in the face to the paper. It's a direct repudiation. You must realize that."
     "I'm not wholly a novice in politics."
     "But I am, practically."
     "Not so much that you can't see what Marrineal would be uggs clearance at."
     "Mr. Marrineal has not confided in me."
     "Nor in me," stated the lawyer grimly. "I don't need his confidence to perceive his plans."
     "What do you believe them to be?"
     No glimmer of a smile appeared on the visage of Judge Enderby as he countered, "Am I talking with a representative of The Patriot or--"
     "All right," laughed Banneker. "_Touche!_ Assume that Marrineal has political ambitions. Surely that lies within the bounds ugg boots on clearance of propriety."
     "Depends on how he pushes them. Do you read The Patriot, Banneker?"
     The editor of The Patriot smiled.
     "Do you approve its methods in, let us say, the political articles?"
     "I have no control over the news columns."
     "Don't answer my question," said the lawyer with a fine effect of patience, long-suffering and milky-mild, "if it in any way discommodes you."
     "It all comes to this," disclosed Banneker. "If the mayor turns ugg boots on clearance on us, we can't lie down under the whip and we won't. We'll hit back."
     "Of course."
     "Editorially, I mean."
     "I understand. At least the editorials will be a direct method of attack, and an honest one. I may assume that much?"
     "Have you ever seen anything in the editorial columns of The Patriot that would lead you to assume otherwise?"