Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Manyhadpressedforwardtoshakehishand,butotherswerenotfoundwantingwho,formerlyhisstaunchsupporters,nowscentingoppositionintheair,heldback,hesitating,afraidtocompromisethemselvesbyadheringtothefortunesofamanwhoseactionsmightbediscreditedbytheveryorganisationofwhichhewasthehead.

           DecliningtotakethechairofpresidingofficerwhichGarnettofferedhim,theGovernorwithdrewtoanangleofthestage,wherehewasjoinedbyKeast.

           Thisone,stillunalterablydevotedtoMagnus,acquaintedhimbrieflywiththetenorofthespeechesthathadbeenmade.

           “Iamashamedofthem,Governor,”heprotestedindignantly,“tolosetheirnervenow!Tofailyounow!itmakesmybloodboil.Ifyouhadsucceededyesterday,ifallhadgonewell,doyouthinkwewouldhaveheardofanytalkof’assumptionofauthority,’or’actingwithoutadviceandconsent’?AsiftherewasanytimetocallameetingoftheExecutiveCommittee.Ifyouhadn’tactedasyoudid,thewholecountywouldhavebeengrabbedbytheRailroad.Getup,Governor,andbring’emallupstanding.Justtear’emalltopieces,show’emthatyouarethehead,theboss.That’swhattheyneed.Thatkillingyesterdayhasshakenthenervecleanoutofthem.”

           FortheinstanttheGovernorwastakenallaback.What,hislieutenantswerefailinghim?What,hewastobequestioned,interpolateduponyesterday’s“irrepressibleconflict”?HaddisaffectionappearedintheranksoftheLeague—atthis,ofallmoments?Heputfromhimhisterriblegrief.Thecausewasindanger.