They saw with speculative and somewhat jealous eyes how, after his union with Cowperwood, he grew and how he managed to work his will in many ways--by extracting tolls from the police department, and heavy annual campaign contributions from manufacturers favored by the city gas and water departments.

McKenty--a born manipulator in this respect--knew where political funds were to be had in an hour of emergency, and he did not hesitate to demand them.

Tiernan and Kerrigan had always been fairly treated by him as politics go; but they had never as yet been included in his inner council of plotters.

When he was down-town on one errand or another, he stopped in at their places to shake hands with them, to inquire after business, to ask if there was any favor he could do them; but never did he stoop to ask a favor of them or personally to promise any form of reward.

That was the business of Dowling and others through whom he worked.
Naturally men of strong, restive, animal disposition, finding no complete outlet for all their growing capacity, Tiernan and Kerrigan were both curious to see in what way they could add to their honors and emoluments.