“I’m prepared to take the risk.”
“Then take a smaller one, and give me a subject to write you a sample about.”
“Write about damn nuisances,” said the editor.
“Give me a sheet of paper.”
“Look here! Are you going to get out?”
“No. You told me to write about damn nuisances, and I’m going to do it.”
At this the editor leant back in his chair and said:
“Well, if you haven’t a profound cheek—”
Realizing the opening, Wynne seated himself before a vacant table and took up a pen.
“Paper and silence,” he said, “are the ingredients required, and you shall have your article in an hour’s time.”