In the afternoon he was at liberty to follow his impulse, and this directed him to the British Museum, whither of late he had several times resorted as a reader.  Among the half-dozen books for which he applied was one in German, Reusch’s Bibel und Natur.  After a little dallying, he became absorbed in this work, and two or three hours passed before its hold on his attention slackened.  He seldom changed his position; the volume was propped against others, and he sat bending forward, his arms folded upon the desk.  When he was thus deeply engaged, his face had a hard, stern aspect; if by chance his eye wandered for a moment, its look seemed to express resentment of interruption.

At length he threw himself back with a sudden yielding to weariness, crossed his legs, sank together in the chair, and for half-an-hour brooded darkly.  A fit of yawning admonished him that it was time to quit the atmosphere of study.  He betook himself to a restaurant in the Strand, and thence about eight o’clock made his way to Staple Inn, where the journalist gave him cheerful welcome.

‘Day after day I have meant to write,’ thus he excused himself.  ’But I had really nothing to say.’

‘You don’t look any better for your holiday,’ Earwaker remarked.

‘Holiday?  Oh, I had forgotten all about it.  When do you go?’

’The situation is comical.  I feel sure that if I leave town, my connection with the Postwill come to an end.  I shall have a note from Runcorn saying that we had better take this opportunity of terminating my engagement.  On the whole I should be glad, yet I can’t make up my mind to be ousted by Kenyon—­that’s what it means.  They want to get me away, but I stick on, postponing holiday from week to week.  Runcorn can’t decide to send me about my business, yet every leader I write enrages him.  But for Kenyon, I should gain my point; I feel sure of it.  It’s one of those cases in which homicide would be justified by public interest.  If Kenyon gets my place, the paper becomes at once an organ of ruffiandom, the delight of the blackguardry.’

‘How’s the circulation?’ inquired Peak.

’Pretty sound; that adds to the joke.  This series of stories by Doubleday has helped us a good deal, and my contention is, if we can keep financially right by help of this kind, why not make a little sacrifice for the sake of raising our political tone?  Runcorn won’t see it; he listens eagerly to Kenyon’s assurance that we might sell several thousand more by striking the true pot-house note.’

’Then pitch the thing over!  Wash your hands, and go to cleaner work.’

‘The work I am doing is clean enough,’ replied Earwaker.  ’Let me have my way, and I can make the paper a decent one and a useful one.  I shan’t easily find another such chance.’

‘Your idealism has a strong root,’ said Godwin, rather contemptuously.  ’I half envy you.  There must be a distinct pleasure in believing that any intellectual influence will exalt the English democracy.’