“I had thought of offering you,” Marrineal paused for better effect, “one hundred and fifty dollars a week.”
Banneker was annoyed. That was no more than he could earn, with a little outside work, on The Ledger. He had thought of asking two hundred and fifty. Now he said promptly:
“Those editorials are worth three hundred a week to any paper. As a starter,” he added.
A pained and patient smile overspread Marrineal’s regular features. “The Patriot’s leader-writer draws a hundred at present.”
“I dare say.”
“The whole page costs barely three hundred.”
“It is overpaid.”
“For a comparative novice,” observed Marrineal without rancor, “you do not lack self-confidence.”
“There are the goods,” said Banneker evenly. “It is for you to decide whether they are worth the price asked.”
“And there’s where the trouble is,” confessed Marrineal. “I don’t know. They might be.”