"I'll go and see Delap," he said to himself.
Delap was the editor of a weekly paper for which Henry had sometimes written articles. Delap, however, was not at the office, but Bundy, the manager of the paper, who was also the financier, was there.
"It's all up with us," said Bundy. "We're closing down next week!"
"Closing down!"
"Yes. We're bust. Damn it, we're getting on splendidly, too. Just turning the corner! We should have had a magnificent autumn if it hadn't been for this...."
He came away from Bundy, and walked aimlessly down Fleet Street. "Lots of other people would have had a fine autumn if it hadn't been for this," he thought to himself, and then he saw Leadenham and Crowborough, who worked on the Cottenham Guardian. They were very pale and tired-looking.
"Hilloa!" he said, slapping Leadenham on the back.
Leadenham jumped ... startled! "Oh, it's you," he said, smiling weakly.
"Yes. What's up? You look frightened!" He turned to greet Crowborough.
"Well, we're all rather jiggered by this," Leadenham replied. "We're going to get something to eat. Come with us?"