Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
Harrangavehimthenewsofthepastweek,Dyke’sdischarge,hisresolvetoraiseacropofhops;Vanamee’sreturn,thekillingofthesheep,andHooven’spetitiontoremainupontheranchasMagnus’stenant.ItneededonlyHarran’srecommendationthattheGermanshouldremaintohaveMagnusconsentupontheinstant.“YouknowmoreaboutitthanI,boy,”hesaid,“andwhateveryouthinkiswiseshallbedone.”
Harrantouchedthebayswiththewhip,urgingthemtotheirbriskestpace.TheywerenotyetatAnnixter’sandhewasanxioustogetbacktotheranchhousetosupervisetheblue-stoningofhisseed.
“Bytheway,Governor,”hedemandedsuddenly,“howisLymangettingon?”
Lyman,Magnus’seldestson,hadnevertakenkindlytowardranchlife.HeresembledhismothermorethanhedidMagnus,andhadinheritedfromheradistasteforagricultureandatendencytowardaprofession.AtatimewhenHarranwaslearningtherudimentsoffarming,LymanwasenteringtheStateUniversity,and,graduatingthence,hadspentthreeyearsinthestudyoflaw.Butlateron,traitsthatwereparticularlyhisfather’sdeveloped.Politicsinterestedhim.Hetoldhimselfhewasabornpolitician,wasdiplomatic,approachable,hadatalentforintrigue,agiftofmakingfriendseasilyand,mostindispensableofall,averitablegeniusforputtinginfluentialmenunderobligationstohimself.AlreadyhehadsucceededingainingforhimselftwoimportantofficesinthemunicipaladministrationofSanFrancisco—wherehehadhishome—sheriff’sattorney,and,lateron,assistantdistrictattorney.
