“You are the cog-picker, Mr. Thompson. You know more about it than I do.”
“I make mistakes,” said Thompson, frowning slightly.
“If you make one in my case,” said Tommy, very seriously, “I'll tell you—the moment I myself am absolutely sure of it.”
“Now answer my first question,” said Thompson.
“I am sorry to say I have not found out what cog I want to be.” It cost Tommy a sharp pang to acknowledge his failure. That is why he looked unflinchingly into Mr. Thompson's eyes as he spoke.
“Is that all you can say?” Thompson's voice was so incurious that it sounded cold.
“Well, Mr. Thompson,” Tommy said, desperately, “the last cog always seems to be my cog.”
“Why didn't you say so at once?”
“It didn't seem like an answer.”
“It was more; it was a clue.” Mr. Thompson looked at Tommy a full minute before he asked, “Are you still a college boy?”