Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Youdepositedtwoone-thousanddollarbillsandfourfive-hundreddollarbillsinabox—threehundredandeightwasthenumber—inaboxintheSafetyDepositVaultsinSanFrancisco,andthen—let’ssee,yougaveakeytothisboxtoeachofthegentlemeninquestion,andaftertheelectiontheboxwasempty.Now,Icallthatinteresting—curious,becauseit’sanew,safe,andhighlyingeniousmethodofbribery.Howdidyouhappentothinkofit,Governor?”
“Doyouknowwhatyouaredoing,sir?”Magnusburstforth.“Doyouknowwhatyouareinsinuating,here,inmyownhouse?”
“Why,Governor,”returnedtheeditor,blandly,“I’mnotINSINUATINGanything.I’mtalkingaboutwhatIKNOW.”
“It’salie.”
Genslingerrubbedhischinreflectively.
“Well,”heanswered,“youcanhaveachancetoproveitbeforetheGrandJury,ifyouwantto.”
“MycharacterisknownallovertheState,”blusteredMagnus.“Mypoliticsarepurepolitics.My——”
“Nooneneedsabetterreputationforpurepoliticsthanthemanwhosetsouttobeabriber,”interruptedGenslinger,“andImightaswelltellyou,Governor,thatyoucan’tshoutmedown.Icanputmyhandonthetwochairmenyouboughtbeforeit’sdarkto-day.I’vehadtheirdepositionsinmysafeforthelastsixweeks.Wecouldmakethearreststo-morrow,ifwewanted.Governor,yousuredidariskythingwhenyouwentintothatSacramentofight,anawfulriskything.
