"The nick of time? Wire? What has happened?"
"A very great deal. Oh, we've had a nice old kick-up at the Leader!"
"Kick-up! Have Macgregor and Jones been squabbling again?"
"The fact is, Mac has had to resign; it only took place last night, and we all suppose that you will get the crib."
"But surely Macgregor has not let one of these wretched bickerings lead to his resignation?"
"Oh dear, no! He has done a giddier thing than that, and will clear out of Laysford like a dog with its tail down. The fact is, he has been caught cheating at cards at the Liberal Club, and the Leader cannot afford to be edited by a cheat, don't y' know."
"What a fool the man has been; and yet something of the kind was bound to happen. Many a time his fondness for the card-playing gang at the Club has meant double work for me."
"That has been the joke since you went away, as old Mac has come rushing into the office about midnight, and vamped up a couple of leaders with the aid of his scissors and the London dailies. We heard Jones and he rowing about the character of his stuff a week ago. It seems that Sir Henry had complained."
"Well, I am heartily sorry for his wife and family. I hope the affair may be patched up."
"No fear of that. He has got to go with a rush; and why should you be sorry if his shoes are waiting for you?"