"Damn the war!" exclaimed Angell Herald, leaning back in his chair and looking at his clerk, who had just entered.
"Yes sir," said Pearl, in a non-committal manner. There are moments when Pearl rises almost to inspiration. His sympathetic utterance was balm to his employer's anguished soul.
Pearl accepts his chief's moods or reflects them, whichever seems the more expedient at the moment. Incidentally Pearl has a heart that filled the War Office with foreboding; so Pearl will never become a V.C.
When Angell Herald uttered his impulsive remark, with which Pearl had so tactfully concurred, he had just finished reading a letter from Messrs. Simoon, Golbrith and Cathpell, Ltd. It consisted of three lines; but those three lines had brushed away a hundred a year from his income. This is what they wrote:—
"To Angell Herald, Esq.,
Publicity Agent,
382, Fleet Street, E.C.
DEAR SIR,
We regret to inform you that on account of the war we shall not be able to renew our advertising contract for the current year.
We are,
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) SIMOON, GOLBRITH & CATHPELL, LTD.