Roland sat down weakly. Jimmy, his tale told, resumed the study of his
illustrated paper. Silence reigned in the offices of 'Squibs.'
It was broken by the arrival of Miss March. Her exclamation of
astonishment at the sight of the wrecked room led to a repetition of
Jimmy's story.
She vanished on hearing the name of the hospital to which the stricken
editor had been removed, and returned an hour later with flashing eyes
and a set jaw.
"Aubrey," she said--it was news to Roland that Mr. Petheram's name was
Aubrey--"is very much knocked about, but he is conscious and sitting up
and taking nourishment."
"That's good."
"In a spoon only."
"Ah!" said Roland.
"The doctor says he will not be out for a week. Aubrey is certain it
was that horrible book-maker's men who did it, but of course he can
prove nothing. But his last words to me were, 'Slip it into Percy again
this week.' He has given me one or two things to mention. I don't
understand them, but Aubrey says they will make him wild."
Roland's flesh crept. The idea of making Mr. Pook any wilder than he
appeared to be at present horrified him.
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