me against the devious manoeuvring, the evil communications, the
rotten expediency of a corrupted institution.

For a few seconds no one answered. Then, Annixter, moving abruptly and
uneasily in his place, muttered:

"I spoke upon provocation. If you like, we'll consider it unsaid. I
don't know what's going to become of us--go out of business, I presume."

"I understand Magnus all right," put in Osterman. "He don't have to
go into this thing, if it's against his conscience. That's all right.
Magnus can stay out if he wants to, but that won't prevent us going
ahead and seeing what we can do. Only there's this about it." He turned
again to Magnus, speaking with every degree of earnestness, every
appearance of conviction. "I did not deny, Governor, from the very start
that this would mean bribery. But you don't suppose that I like the idea
either. If there was one legitimate hope that was yet left untried,
no matter how forlorn it was, I would try it. But there's not. It
is literally and soberly true that every means of help--every honest
means--has been attempted. Shelgrim is going to cinch us. Grain rates
are increasing, while, on the other hand, the price of wheat is sagging
lower and lower all the time. If we don't do something we are ruined."

Osterman paused for a moment, allowing precisely the right number of
seconds to elapse, then altering and lowering his voice, added:

"I respect the Governor's principles. I admire them. They do him every
degree of credit." Then, turning directly to Magnus, he concluded with,
"But I only want you to ask yourself, sir, if, at such a crisis, one
ought to think of oneself, to consider purely personal motives in such a
desperate situation as this? Now, we want you with us, Governor; perhaps
not openly, if you don't wish it, but tacitly, at least. I won't ask
you for an answer to-night, but what I do ask of you is to consider this
matter seriously and think over the whole business. Will you do it?"

Osterman ceased definitely to speak, leaning forward across the table,
his eyes fixed on Magnus's face. There was a silence. Outside, the rain
fell continually with an even, monotonous murmur. In the group of men
around the table no one stirred nor spoke. They looked steadily at
Magnus, who, for the moment, kept his glance fixed thoughtfully upon the
table before him. In another moment he raised his head and looked from
face to face around the group. After all, these were his neighbou