“There’s very little you don’t know, isn’t there, Judge?” retorted the editor evenly.
“I try to keep informed; I try to keep informed.” The long jaw relaxed a trifle. “Now, Mr. Robson, a reasonable neutrality as to these pending measures would be greatly appreciated by us.”
“Appreciation is a vague sort of thing.”
“Don’t think you’re going to trap me, young man,” warned the visitor keenly. “I’m not here to make offers. Every man may have his price, but I don’t happen to be fool enough to think that I know yours or could pay it if I did. I want to appeal to your sense of fairness.”
Jeremy laughed, not unpleasantly. “Don’t scare me, Judge.”
“No. This is plain talk. The P.-U. intends to open up soon its extensive educational campaign of advertising, to instruct the public on these new issues.”
“Through the newspapers?”
“Through the newspapers. Would The Guardian refuse that advertising?”
“I don’t see any reason why it should.”
“Very good. Would it accept the advertising and take our money in payment for value received, and then turn about and destroy all the value to us by attacking our arguments editorially?”