Of the first stages of this interesting episode Archie had been a paralysed spectator. The thing had numbed him. And then—
Sudden a thought came, like a full-blown rose.
Flushing his brow.
When he reached the gesticulating group, he was calm and business-like. He had a constructive policy to suggest.
“I say,” he said. “I’ve got an idea!”
“Go away!” said Mr. Brewster. “This is bad enough without you butting in.”
Archie quelled him with a gesture.
“Leave us,” he said. “We would be alone. I want to have a little business-talk with Mr. Gossett.” He turned to the movie-magnate, who was gradually emerging from the fruit-salad rather after the manner of a stout Venus rising from the sea. “Can you spare me a moment of your valuable time?”
“I’ll have him arrested!”
“Don’t you do it, laddie. Listen!”
“The man’s mad. Throwing pies!”