'And he struck me as an enterprising sort of man.'
'"Enterprise without outlay" is the motto of this office,' said the chief.
'But the paper seems to be well conducted,' said Rob, a little crestfallen.
'The worst conducted in England,' said Kirker cheerfully.
Rob asked how the _Mirror_ compared with the _Argus_.
'They have six reporters to our three,' said Kirker, 'but we do double work and beat them.'
'I suppose there is a great deal of rivalry between the staffs of the two papers?' Rob asked, for he had read of such things.
'Oh no,' said Kirker, 'we help each other. For instance, if Daddy Walsh, the _Argus_ chief, is drunk, I help him; and if I'm drunk, he helps me. I'm going down to the Frying Pan to see him now.'
'It's a literary club,' Kirker explained, 'and very exclusive. If you come with me I'll introduce you.'
Rob was somewhat taken aback at what he had heard, but he wanted to be on good terms with his fellow-workers.
'Not to-night,' he said. 'I think I'd better be getting home now.'
Kirker lit another cigarette, and saying he would expect Rob at the office next morning, strolled off. The new reporter was undecided whether to follow him at once, or to wait for Mr. Licquorish's reappearance. He was looking round the office curiously, when the door opened and Kirker put his head in.
'By the bye, old chap,' he said, 'could you lend me five bob?'
He had to undo the string of his money-bag, but the chief was too fine a gentleman to smile.
'Thanks, old man,' Kirker said carelessly, and again withdrew.
The door of the editor's room was open as Rob passed.
'Ah, Mr. Angus,' said Mr. Licquorish, 'here are a number of books for review; you might do a short notice of some of them.'
He handed Rob the two works that happened to lie uppermost, and the new reporter slipped them into his pockets with a certain elation. The night was dark and wet, but he lit his pipe and hurried up the muddy streets to the single room that was now his home. Probably his were the only lodgings in his street that had not the portrait of a young lady on the mantelpiece. On his way he passed three noisy young men. They were Kirker and two reporters on the _Argus_ trying which could fling his hat highest in the rain.