“Aw!” Ferris exchanged glances with his companions. “You know just as well as I do that you could have given those places to the men that had worked for you. But we’ll say nothing about that just now,” he went on, extending his right hand, with the palm turned toward the floor. “That’s off. We would have paid you back all right last night if Mr. Stone hadn’t promised you’d stand by us. He smoothed it over, and he said you realized your mistake, and all that.” “That’s right, he did,” Monahan corroborated, huskily. “He said you told him yourself,” cried one of the others, a sallow-faced man with thin, black hair. “I did? When was that, Mr. Long?” “Down in Washington,” Long replied. “The night you were having a blow-out.” For a moment Douglas Briggs was silent. “I don’t remember ever having made such a promise,” he replied, thoughtfully. Ferris laughed bitterly. “Listen to that, will you?” “I should have no right to make any such promise,” Briggs continued. “And I can only repeat what I said a few moments ago. I’ve pledged myself to support the Civil Service. I told you that last night.” “Oh, what did that amount to?” said Ferris, with disgust. “That was just a bluff,” Long exclaimed. Briggs smiled. “If you believe that was a bluff, I can’t see why you should consider my promise worth anything.” “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.