"Oh! So that's it, is it?" Buchanan murmured.
Both the sub-editors raised their heads.
"That's it," said the doctor.
"Some people were saying he'd quarrelled with the trainer again and was shamming," said Buchanan. "But I didn't believe that. There's no hanky-panky about Jos Myatt, anyhow."
I learnt in answer to my questions that a great and terrible football match was at that moment in progress at Knype, a couple of miles away, between the Knype Club and the Manchester Rovers. It was conveyed to me that the importance of this match was almost national, and that the entire district was practically holding its breath till the result should be known. The half-time result was one goal each.
"If Knype lose," said Buchanan, explanatorily, "they'll find themselves pushed out of the First League at the end of the season. That's a cert ... one of the oldest clubs in England! Semi-finalists for the English Cup in '78."
"'79," corrected the elder sub-editor.
I gathered that the crisis was grave.
"And Myatt's the captain, I suppose?" said I.
"No. But he's the finest full-back in the League."