“At that precise moment there came another knock at the door.”
“'I won't see him!' he cried. 'I don't care who he is; I won't see him. Send him away! Send everybody away!'”
“I went to the door. He was an elderly gentleman. He made to sweep by me; but I barred his way, and closed the editorial door behind me. He seemed surprised; but I told him it was impossible for him to see the editor that afternoon, and suggested his writing his business on a sheet of paper, which I handed to him for the purpose. I remained in that ante-room for half an hour, and during that time I suppose I must have sent away about ten or a dozen people. I don't think their business could have been important, or I should have heard about it afterwards. The last to come was a tired-looking gentleman, smoking a cigarette. I asked him his name.”
“He looked at me in surprise, and then answered, 'Idiot!'”
“I remained firm, however, and refused to let him pass.”
“'It's a bit awkward,' he retorted. 'Don't you think you could make an exception in favour of the sub-editor on press night?'”
“I replied that such would be contrary to my instructions.”
“'Oh, all right,' he answered. 'I'd like to know who's going to the Royalty to-night, that's all. It's seven o'clock already.'”
“An idea occurred to me. If the sub-editor of a paper doesn't know whom to send to a theatre, it must mean that the post of dramatic critic on that paper is for some reason or another vacant.”
“'Oh, that's all right,' I told him. 'I shall be in time enough.'”