Anything wrong these days ?" The other answered in the negative, but, for all that, Osterman was right.

The Governor had aged suddenly.

His former erectness was gone, the broad shoulders stooped a little, the strong lines of his thin-lipped mouth were relaxed, and his hand, as it clasped over the yellowed ivory knob of his cane, had an unwonted tremulousness not hitherto noticeable.

But the change in Magnus was more than physical.
At last, in the full tide of power, President of the League, known and talked of in every county of the State, leader in a great struggle, consulted, deferred to as the "Prominent Man," at length attaining that position, so long and vainly sought for, he yet found no pleasure in his triumph, and little but bitterness in life.

His success had come by devious methods, had been reached by obscure means.
He was a briber.