“Then you must explain if I’m to understand.”
“By whom is society news read? By two classes,” expounded the veteran; “those whose names appear, and those who are envious of those whose names appear. Well, we’re after the envious.”
“Still I don’t see. With what purpose?’
“Jim Simpson, who has just got his grocery bill for more than he can pay, reads a high-colored account of Mrs. Stumpley-Triggs’s aquatic dinner served in the hundred-thousand-dollar swimming-pool on her Westchester estate. That makes Jim think.”
“You mean that it makes him discontented.”
“Well, discontent is a mighty leaven.”
Miss Van Arsdale directed her fine and serious eyes upon Banneker. “So it comes back to the cult of discontent. Is that Mr. Marrineal’s formula, too, Mr. Edmonds?”
“Underneath all his appearance of candor, Marrineal’s a secret animal,” said Edmonds.
“Does he leave you a free hand with your editorials, Ban?” inquired the outsider.
“Absolutely.”