"Mr. Surtaine is the new owner of the 'Clarion,'" explained Ellis.
"In that case, of course," said Veltman quietly. "Good-night, gentlemen."
"Good-looking chap," remarked Hal. "But what a curious expression."
"Veltman's a thinker and a crank," said Ellis. "If he had a little more balance he'd make his mark. But he's a sort of melancholiac. Ill-health, nerves, and a fixed belief in the general wrongness of creation."
"Well. I'll get to know more about the shop to-morrow," said Hal. "I'm for home and sleep just now. See you at—what time, by the way?"
"Noon," said Sterne. "If that suits you."
"Perfectly. Good-night."
Arrived at home, Hal went straight to the big ground-floor library where, as the light suggested, his father sat reading.
"Dad, do you want a retraction printed?"
"Of the 'Clarion' article?"