He ceased only at the moment when he dropped off the
train into the desert. He did not spare himself. And yet when the
quiet, eloquent voice stopped, there were tears in the President's
eyes. He made no comment until Enoch turned to the fire, then he said,
with a curious smile:
"A public man cannot afford private vices."
"I know that now," replied Enoch. "You may have my resignation
whenever you wish it. I think it probable that I'll never touch a card
again. But I dare not promise."
"I'm told," said the Chief Executive drily, "that you were not without
good company in Blank Street; that a certain famous person from the
British Legation, a certain Admiral of our own navy and an Italian
prince contributed their share to the entertainment."
Enoch flushed slightly, but did not speak.
"I don't want your resignation, Huntingdon. It's a most unfortunate
affair, but we cannot afford to lose you. Brown is a whelp, also he's
a power that must be reckoned with. That article turned Washington
over for a while. The talk has quieted now. It was the gambling that
the populace rolled under its tongue. Only he and the scandal mongers
like Brown gave any but a pitying glance at the other story. The fears
that I have about the affair are first as to its reaction on you and
second as to the sort of capital the opposite party will make of it.
Pages:
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422