'I am very sorry to hear it.'
'Why?'
'Because you are too young yet. And ... and, my boy, I don't want to lose the best war-correspondent that ever crossed a saddle.'
The object of this honest flattery shrugged his shoulders.
'There are plenty more coming on.'
The great man shook his head.
'Do you mean to tell me,' he asked, 'that you are going to turn your back upon a splendid career, and take up journalism? Why, my dear fellow, even at my age I would willingly change my chair for your saddle, and men say that I am at the top of the journalistic tree. Come, be candid; why are you giving up active service?'
'Because I am wanted at home, and because I must find some means of making a steady income.'
'Will you take my advice?' asked the elder man humbly.
They were like two friendly gladiators, these immovable journalists, each conscious of the strength that lay behind the gentle manner of the other, both anxious to avoid measuring steel.