“You don’t believe that?”
“Of course I don’t. You’re blue, that’s all. That newspaper man has hurt your feelings. That’s your only fault, Briggs—you’re too easily hurt. You want to have everybody’s good opinion.”
“I could get along with my own,” Briggs replied, quietly.
“By helping to put that bill through the House you’re doing the country a thousand times more good than you’ve ever accomplished through those reform schemes of yours. You aren’t practical enough, Briggs. Solid facts are good enough for me.”
“I’ve observed that,” said Briggs, without a change of expression.
“But I’ll tell you what you can do,” West went on, ignoring his host’s manner, “since that conscience of yours is bothering you so much. You can vote against the bill. That’s what I wanted to speak to you about. It would be a very good move just now.”
Briggs looked interested. “How vote against it?” he said, wrinkling his forehead.
“Simply vote,” West replied, with a smile and a wave of the hand.
“After all the work I’ve done for it?” Briggs asked, in astonishment.
“Who’s to know about that? If you like you can get up in the House and explain why you’ve changed your mind.”