"A man of judgment, of keen discernment and possessed, moreover, of a knowledge of men and things."
Mr. Nape nodded thoughtfully.
"Some one we can depend upon to carry out a policy without striking out on some silly idea of his own—there's the job, will you take it?"
"I have had some experience," began Mr. Nape, but the Duke interrupted—
"Pardon me," he said, "but it is not experience that's required. An experienced editor would not do the things we shall expect our editor to do. We shall expect him to—er—rush in where the Times would fear to tread."
Mr. Nape had a dim idea that the turn the Duke gave to this requirement was not as complimentary as it might have been.
"I have a feeling," the Duke continued, "that in Nape we have discovered a local Delane."
He spoke ostensibly to Hank, as though oblivious of the new Editor's presence. Mr. Nape rather enjoyed the experience than otherwise.
"Or a Horace Greely," suggested the patriotic American.
The Duke assented gravely.