“I like that,” said McCarthy. “Now, please, say what you want of me.”
“We want you to get the charter.”
“Are you planning to spend any money here for that purpose?” McCarthy asked.
“We'll lay out any reasonable sum.”
“Then I won't have a thing to do with it—not a thing,” said the gentleman. “The legislature must be kept clean.”
“We're willing to put ourselves in your hands absolutely,” said the important man. “I hardly need say that we should prefer to have the proposition go on its merits, but you know there's a new element here which is looking for money.”
“And you rich men with big projects are going to raise the devil with us if you're not careful,” said McCarthy. “Your plans are so vast and important that you will let nothing stand in their way—not even the price of a thousand men. Now, when you begin to buy votes you'll have more and more of it to do, and by-and-by Albany will be a pest-hole.”
“We feel that as keenly as you do,” said the other. “But, you know, those new fellows who have lately come here—Joe and Ed and Sam and Jim and Jack, and a score like them—they've got a following, and every day it increases. Their plan is to hold up the car of progress and demand our money.”
“Put the matter in my hands, and I'll get your charter,” said the gentleman. “But you must agree not to interfere or spend a cent of money.”
“We put ourselves in your hands absolutely,” said the important man.