“Well, there are five of us here,” said Ferris, in a surly tone.
“I see. Witnesses!” Briggs shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll tell you what I will do for you. If any places come my way that aren’t covered by the Civil Service, you shall have them.”
Ferris looked at Briggs with open contempt. “We might as well tell you, sir, we’re not satisfied with the way you’ve treated us. An’ with your record, you’ve got no right to put on any high an’ mighty airs.”
Monahan turned to remonstrate with Ferris.
“What do you mean by that?” said Briggs, looking sternly at the young fellow.
Monahan extended his hand toward Briggs. “He’s just talkin’ a little wild, that’s all,” he said, bowing and gesticulating. “He don’t mean anything. We wanted to let you know how we felt. We didn’t quite explain that a few moments ago.”
“I understand very well how you gentlemen feel, and I’d help you if I could. I only wish I could make you see that I can’t do what’s impossible.”
Monahan started for the door, followed by the others, one of whom stumbled over a piece of furniture. “Think it over, sir, think it over,” he said, bowing and holding his cap in both hands.
“I can promise to do that,” Briggs replied.
For several moments after his visitors left Briggs stood motionless at his table. He appreciated the full significance of the opposition to him within his own party; it might mean his defeat; so far back as the previous Spring Stone had foreseen this situation. But he said to himself that he could not have acted differently. He had done his best to serve the party in all legitimate ways; but those heelers cared only for their own selfish interests. Then he realized bitterly that he had made the mistake of trying to play a double game: he had been a straddler. If he had followed a straight course, if he had acted on his convictions, he might now have the satisfaction of feeling that he had been too good for his party. It was chiefly in order to atone to his own conscience for the dishonest work he had done that he had refused to cater to the lower elements of the party. Now he saw that his scrupulousness was less an expression of honesty than of pride. He was in one of those moods when he judged himself far more harshly than he would have judged another man in his own position, when he lost faith in the sincerity of any of his motives. However, he thought, now he had taken his stand he could maintain it. Those fellows would give him a hard fight; but he was ready for it. His resentment was aroused; he returned to his desk with new energy, as if the contest were already begun.