Cowan looked doubtful for a moment, then he sniffed.
"Well, all right," he said finally. "Forget it."
"You're going out to the game, aren't you?" Paul asked.
"Yes, I guess so. What's Fletcher think of being laid off?"
"Well, he doesn't seem to mind it as I thought he would. I--I don't know quite what to make of him. It almost seems that he's--well, glad of it!"
"Huh! You've got another guess, my friend."
"How's that? What do you mean?"
"Nothing much; only I guess I've got better eyes than you," responded Cowan with a grin. After a pause during which he rearranged the objects on the mantel-shelf to his satisfaction, he turned to Paul again:
"Say, do you think Fletcher and I could get on together if--well, if we knew each other better?"
"I'm sure you could," answered Paul eagerly.