Question!
WhatwiththephysicalshocksincidentaltomyfirstinterviewwithProfessorChallengerandthementaloneswhichaccompaniedthesecond,IwasasomewhatdemoralizedjournalistbythetimeIfoundmyselfinEnmoreParkoncemore.Inmyachingheadtheonethoughtwasthrobbingthattherereallywastruthinthisman’sstory,thatitwasoftremendousconsequence,andthatitwouldworkupintoinconceivablecopyfortheGazettewhenIcouldobtainpermissiontouseit.Ataxicabwaswaitingattheendoftheroad,soIsprangintoitanddrovedowntotheoffice.McArdlewasathispostasusual.
"Well,"hecried,expectantly,"whatmayitrunto?I’mthinking,youngman,youhavebeeninthewars.Don’ttellmethatheassaultedyou."
"Wehadalittledifferenceatfirst."
"Whatamanitis!Whatdidyoudo?"
"Well,hebecamemorereasonableandwehadachat.ButIgotnothingoutofhim—nothingforpublication."
"I’mnotsosureaboutthat.Yougotablackeyeoutofhim,andthat’sforpublication.Wecan’thavethisreignofterror,Mr.Malone.Wemustbringthemantohisbearings.I’llhavealeaderetteonhimtomorrowthatwillraiseablister.JustgivemethematerialandIwillengagetobrandthefellowforever.ProfessorMunchausen—how’sthatforaninsetheadline?SirJohnMandevilleredivivus—Cagliostro—alltheimpostersandbulliesinhistory.I’llshowhimupforthefraudheis."
"Iwouldn’tdothat,sir."