Patrick Gilgan was not slow in responding to Cowperwood's message.

Whatever his political connections and proclivities, he did not care to neglect so powerful a man.
"And what can I be doing for you to-day, Mr.Cowperwood ?" he inquired, when he arrived looking nice and fresh, very spick and span after his victory.
"Listen, Mr.Gilgan," said Cowperwood, simply, eying the Republican county chairman very fixedly and twiddling his thumbs with fingers interlocked, "are you going to let the city council jam through the General Electric and that South Side 'L' road ordinance without giving me a chance to say a word or do anything about it ?" Mr.Gilgan, so Cowperwood knew, was only one of a new quadrumvirate setting out to rule the city, but he pretended to believe that he was the last word--an all power and authority--after the fashion of McKenty.

"Me good man," replied Gilgan, archly, "you flatter me.

I haven't the city council in me vest pocket.

I've been county chairman, it's true, and helped to elect some of these men, but I don't own 'em.
Why shouldn't they pass the General Electric ordinance?
It's an honest ordinance, as far as I know.