“I don’t doubt it,” said the city editor. Then as if the thought had just struck him: “By the way, how did you come to leave the Argus?”
Herbert flushed up at this, and the fact did not escape the attention of the keen-witted city editor of the Sentinel. He scrutinized his visitor with a steady eye. Herbert hesitated for some seconds, and then said slowly:
“Well, to tell the truth, that is a personal matter that I cannot explain.”
“All right,” said the other slowly, “that rests with you entirely.”
“Can I have the position?” inquired Herbert.
“Well,” said the other, rubbing his hand over his face and speaking slower than before, “I think you had better come in and see me again in the course of a day or so.”
This was not very satisfactory, but Herbert had to make the best of it. He returned to his room for the purpose of writing some letters and later on took a walk. Two days after this incident he called at the Sentinel office, but found, to his disappointment, that the city editor was out of the city. Another day elapsed, and this time the man he was in search of was at his desk.
“Do you find that you will be able to employ me on the Sentinel?” asked Herbert.
“No,” said the city editor decidedly; “no, I cannot find room for you.”
“Is there any special reason for that decision?” asked Herbert with a sinking sensation in the region of the heart.