you--because your people had given their word not to betray Genz. But
you couldn't see it and there you went, talking about the Grand Jury
and stripes and so on, stirring up passions and ugly feelings. And I
want to tell you that the man who can afford to do that has to be
mighty immaculate himself. The only way to play politics, whatever
you're _for_, is to learn the game first. Then you'll know how
far you can go and what your own record will stand. There ain't a man
alive whose record will stand too much, Mr. Knowles--and when you get
to thinking about that and what your own is, it makes you feel more
like treating your fellow-sinners a good deal gentler than you would
otherwise. Now _I've_ got a wife and two little girls, and my old
mother's proud of me (though you wouldn't think it) and they'd hate it
a good deal to see me sent over the road for playing the game the best
I could as I found it."

He paused for a moment, looking sad and almost embarrassed. "It ain't
any great pleasure to me," he said, "to think that the people have let
it get to be the game that it is. But I reckon it's good for
_you_. I reckon the best thing that ever happened to you is
having to come here this morning to ask mercy of a man you looked down
on."

Farwell shifted a little in his chair, but he didn't speak, and
Gorgett went on:

"I suppose you think it's mighty hard that your private character
should be used against you in a political question by a man you call a
public corruptionist. But I'm in a position where I can't take any
chances against an antagonist that won't play the game my way. I had
to find your vulnerable point to defend myself, and, in finding it, I