Page:The gold brick (1910).djvu/346

 *pened to be inside that door just now when she confessed—and there's Gilman besides." Handy, his cigar tilted upward, smoked on voluminously and smiled through the smoke with deep satisfaction. The governor averted his face. Lines of trouble drew themselves across his brow. Presently he turned to the chairman.

"Handy," he said, "I may be reëlected and I may not—probably not. However that may be, I insist upon this: I want that woman, for the present, let alone. I have faith in the people. I am willing to go to them on my record. They may or may not reëlect me. I shall not, at any rate, have my motives impugned. I only want, when the turmoil has subsided, when the subject can be viewed with clear eyes and investigated by clear heads and clean hands, to see justice done."

"Oh," said Handy, "to hell with justice."

"Well, then," asked the governor, "what do you say to a little mercy now and then?"