"Matthews? I don't believe it. Williard would not speak to him on the street, let alone put him on the ticket."
"Wait and see."
"He's a blackleg, a gambler, worse than Murphy."
"And what is your grievance against Murphy? He has always served the party well."
"Not to speak of Mr. Murphy."
"What has he done?"
"He has sold his vote three times in the common council. He sold it once for two thousand dollars in that last pavement deal. I have been rather observant. Let him remain alderman; I can not see my way clear to appoint him to a position in the city hall."
McDermott's eyes narrowed. "Your accusations are grave. If Murphy learns, he may make you prove it."
Carrington remained silent for a few minutes, his face in thoughtful repose; then having decided to pursue a certain course, he reached into a pigeon-hole of his desk and selected a paper which he gave to McDermott. The latter studied the paper carefully. From the paper his glance traveled to the face of the young man opposite him. He wondered why he hadn't taken more particular notice of the cleft chin and the blue-gray eyes. Had he made a mistake? Was the young fellow's honesty greater than his ambition? McDermott returned the paper without comment.