"Oh, well, that is all right," said Miss Jennie, reassuringly. "I have
just driven from the office of the _Daily Bugle_. Mr. Alder cannot come
to-night."

"Ah," said Hazel, closing the door. "Then are you here in his place?"

"I am here instead of him. Mr. Alder is on other business that he had to
attend to at the editor's request. Now, Mr. Hardwick--that's the editor,
you know----"

"Yes, I know," answered Hazel.

They were by this time seated in the front parlour.

"Well, Mr. Hardwick is very anxious that the figures should be given
with absolute accuracy."

"Of course, that would be much better," cried the man; "but, you see, I
have gone thoroughly into the question with Mr. Alder already. He said
he would mention what I told him to the editor--put my position before
him, in fact."

"Oh, he has done so," said Miss Baxter, "and did it very effectively
indeed; in fact, your reasons are quite unanswerable. You fear, of
course, that you will lose your situation, and that is very important,
and no one in the _Bugle_ office wishes you to suffer for what you have
done. Of course, it is all in the public interest."

"Of course, of course," murmured Hazel, looking down on the table.