“We all expect great things of you,” flattered Wattercouch, who had still to justify his selection of Sam to the Liberal caucus.
“I don’t intend to fail you, either. But I can’t oppose these Baths. As a Liberal I am in favour of them.”
“So are we all. But we are not in favour of Alderman Verity’s being in favour of them.”
“It’s David and Goliath to pit me against Verity, Wattercouch.”
“David won.”
“And Samuel will win. But he will make a condition. The condition is a free hand. I want no help and no advice and I undertake on that condition to pulverize Verity.”
“But you’ll tell me what you propose to do?”
“I said a free hand, Wattercouch. Leave this to me and I’ll settle it.”
It seemed to Wattercouch that every time he had dealings with Sam he was asked to take a gambling chance, but he had no plan of action, and the man without a plan is always at a disadvantage against the man who, with or without a plan, looks confident. He left it to Sam and there was, as it happened, nobody to whom he could have left it better.
Wattercouch had no inside information and only vague suspicions that Verity’s change of mind was rooted in the same earth as Verity’s self-interest. But Sam knew something and was not boasting idly when he undertook to “pulverize” Verity.