"What are you driving at?" Tracy asked him.
"Reporter, City Editor. It's close enough. Maybe Wainwright can still get his story."
"You mean Overman? You wouldn't dare."
"It isn't just Cripp's life, or even yours, if you still have your mind made up about me. It's my life too. If we can make Wainwright settle for Overman, all this doesn't have to go any further."
"What's your price?" Tracy demanded.
"For Heaven's sake!" Cripp cried.
"I can't blame her, Cripp. I was pretty nasty about it before, and I tried to be pretty tricky as well. I'm still all mixed up. I think I know where I stand now but I can't guarantee anything."
"You mean after all this is over you're liable to change your mind again?" Tracy asked him, giving Cripp an I-told-you-so smile.
"No. Definitely not. At worst, I'll be neutral. At best—"
"At best," Cripp finished for him enthusiastically, "you'll probably be made City Editor in Overman's place. You're the obvious man for the job, and if you could see your way clear to joining us, there's no telling what we might accomplish. Don't you see it, Tracy?"