"You're certain of it?" Good's voice had suddenly become like steel, and the old man seemed to grow visibly smaller before the keen eyes penetrating to the innermost recesses of his soul.
"Yes—I—I'm quite sure of it."
"Your mind is fully made up, of course." The meaning behind the words was unmistakable. The Judge took his cue at once.
"Absolutely."
"Good night," said Good.
"But I—" The Judge hesitated.
"Good night," repeated the tall man with a finality which brooked no question.
The old man stood embarrassedly looking at him for a moment. Then he went out, softly closing the door behind him.
Good sat staring after him, a crooked little smile twisting his lips, his body looking oddly shrunken and weak.
And there he sat unmoving, until he heard the rumble of the trucks in the street below and knew that the first edition was on its way to the world. Then he went out.