Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter V.
Andyoucan’tmakeanycounterchargeofbriberythere.No,sir,thecorporationdon’tusesuchamateurishmethodsasthat.Confidentiallyandbetweenustwo,allthattheRailroadhasdoneforLyman,inordertoattachhimtotheirinterests,istopromisetobackhimpoliticallyinthenextcampaignforGovernor.It’stoobad,”hecontinued,droppinghisvoice,andchanginghisposition.“Itreallyistoobadtoseegoodmentryingtobuntastonewalloverwiththeirbareheads.Youcouldn’thavewonatanystageofthegame.IwishIcouldhavetalkedtoyouandyourfriendsbeforeyouwentintothatSacramentofight.Icouldhavetoldyouthenhowlittlechanceyouhad.Whenwillyoupeoplerealisethatyoucan’tbuckagainsttheRailroad?Why,Magnus,it’slikemegoingoutinapaperboatandshootingpeasatabattleship.”
“Isthatallyouwishedtoseemeabout,Mr.Genslinger?”remarkedMagnus,bestirringhimself.“Iamratheroccupiedto-day.”“Well,”returnedtheother,“youknowwhatthepublicationofthisarticlewouldmeanforyou.”Hepausedagain,tookoffhisglasses,breathedonthem,polishedthelenseswithhishandkerchiefandreadjustedthemonhisnose.“I’vebeenthinking,Governor,”hebeganagain,withrenewedalertness,andquiteirrelevantly,“ofenlargingthescopeofthe’Mercury.’Yousee,I’mmidwaybetweenthetwobigcentresoftheState,SanFranciscoandLosAngeles,andIwanttoextendthe’Mercury’s’sphereofinfluenceasfarupanddownthevalleyasIcan.Iwanttoillustratethepaper.
