Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Briber,corrupterofgovernment,ballot-boxstuffer,descendingtothelevelofback-roompoliticians,ofbar-roomheelers,he,MagnusDerrick,statesmanoftheoldschool,Romaninhisironintegrity,abandoningacareerratherthanenterthe“newpolitics,”had,inonemomentofweakness,hazardingall,evenhonour,onasinglestake,takinggreatchancestoachievegreatresults,sweptawaytheworkofalifetime.
Gamblerthathewas,hehadatlastchancedhishigheststake,hispersonalhonour,inthegreatestgameofhislife,andhadlost.
ItwasPresley’smorbidlykeenobservationthatfirstnoticedtheevidenceofanewtroubleintheGovernor’sfaceandmanner.PresleywassurethatLyman’sdefectionhadnotsoupsethim.Themorningafterthecommitteemeeting,MagnushadcalledHarranandAnnieDerrickintotheoffice,and,aftertellinghiswifeofLyman’sbetrayal,hadforbiddeneitherofthemtomentionhisnameagain.Hisattitudetowardshisprodigalsonwasthatofstern,unrelentingresentment.Butnow,Presleycouldnotfailtodetecttracesofamoredeep-seatedtravail.Somethingwasinthewind,thetimesweretroublous.Whatnextwasabouttohappen?Whatfreshcalamityimpended?
Onemorning,towardtheveryendoftheweek,Presleywokeearlyinhissmall,white-paintedironbed.Hehastenedtogetupanddress.Therewasmuchtobedonethatday.Untillatethenightbefore,hehadbeenatworkonacollectionofsomeofhisverses,gatheredfromthemagazinesinwhichtheyhadfirstappeared.Presleyhadreceivedaliberalofferforthepublicationoftheseversesinbookform.
