“It's too bad,” murmured Holloway, still fingering the letters on the desk.
“Since you are in doubt, why don't you cable General Cornish for instructions, or, if there is a reason why you don't care to, it is not too late for me to cable,” said Dan.
This proposal did not please Holloway at all, but he was unwilling to admit that he feared Cornish's displeasure, which, where he was concerned, usually took the form of present silence and a subsequent sarcasm that dealt with the faulty quality of his judgment. The sarcasm might come six months after it had been inspired, but it was certain to come sooner or later, and to be followed by a bad half-hour, which Cornish devoted to past mistakes. Indeed, Cornish's attitude towards him had become, through long association, one of chronic criticism, and he was certain to be unpleasantly affected both by what he did and by what he left undone.
“Why don't you wait until the general returns from England? That's not far off now. Under the circumstances he'll accept your resignation.”
“He will have to,” said Oakley, briefly.
“Don't worry; he'll probably demand it,” remarked the vice-president, disagreeably.
“If you are so sure of this, why don't you accept it?” retorted Dan.
“I have no one to appoint in your place.”
“What's wrong with Holt? He'll do temporarily.”
“I couldn't feel positive of his being satisfactory to General Cornish. He's a very young man, ain't he?”