Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Anythingwrongthesedays?”

           Theotheransweredinthenegative,but,forallthat,Ostermanwasright.TheGovernorhadagedsuddenly.Hisformererectnesswasgone,thebroadshouldersstoopedalittle,thestronglinesofhisthin-lippedmouthwererelaxed,andhishand,asitclaspedovertheyellowedivoryknobofhiscane,hadanunwontedtremulousnessnothithertonoticeable.ButthechangeinMagnuswasmorethanphysical.Atlast,inthefulltideofpower,PresidentoftheLeague,knownandtalkedofineverycountyoftheState,leaderinagreatstruggle,consulted,deferredtoasthe“ProminentMan,”atlengthattainingthatposition,solongandvainlysoughtfor,heyetfoundnopleasureinhistriumph,andlittlebutbitternessinlife.Hissuccesshadcomebydeviousmethods,hadbeenreachedbyobscuremeans.

           Hewasabriber.Hecouldneverforgetthat.Tofurtherhisends,disinterested,public-spirited,evenphilanthropicasthosewere,hehadconnivedwithknavery,he,thepoliticianoftheoldschool,ofsuchrigorousintegrity,whohadabandoneda“career”ratherthancompromisewithhonesty.Atthiseleventhhour,involvedandentrappedinthefine-spunwebofaneworderofthings,bewilderedbyOsterman’sdexterity,byhisvolubilityandglibness,goadedandharassedbeyondthepointofreasonbytheaggressionoftheTrusthefought,hehadatlastfailed.Hehadfallenhehadgivenabribe.Hehadthoughtthat,afterall,thiswouldmakebutlittledifferencewithhim.TheaffairwasknownonlytoOsterman,Broderson,andAnnixter;theywouldnotjudgehim,beingthemselvesinvolved.