"Come in." Peter entered, and found Maguire seated in an easy attitude on a lounge.
He noticed that his thumbs were once more tucked into his waistcoat.
"Mr.Kennedy," said Peter without seating himself, "there is an attempt being made to get a city delegate to nominate Porter.

It seems to me that is his particular friends' business." Maguire spoke so quickly that Kennedy had no chance to reply: "Kennedy's promised to nominate him, Mr.Stirling, if you won't." "Do you feel that you are bound to do it ?" asked Peter.
Kennedy moved uneasily in his chair.

"Yes, I suppose I have promised." "Will you release Mr.Kennedy from his promise if he asks it ?" Peter queried to Maguire.
"Why, Mr.Stirling, I don't think either he or you ought to ask it." "That was not my question." It was the Senator's turn to squirm.

He did not want to say no, for fear of angering Peter, yet he did not like to surrender the advantage.
Finally he said: "Yes, I'll release him, but Mr.Kennedy isn't the kind of a man that cries off from a promise.

That's women's work." "No," said Kennedy stiffening suddenly in backbone, as he saw the outlet opened by Maguire, between antagonizing Peter, and retracting his consent.