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'llhavealeaderetteonhimto-morrowthatwillraiseablister.JustgivemethematerialandIwillengagetobrandthefellowforever.ProfessorMunchausen—how'sthatforaninsetheadline?SirJohnMandevilleredivivus—Cagliostro—alltheimpostersandbulliesinhistory.I'llshowhimupforthefraudheis."
"Iwouldn'tdothat,sir."
"Whynot?"
"Becauseheisnotafraudatall."
"What!"roaredMcArdle."Youdon'tmeantosayyoureallybelievethisstuffofhisaboutmammothsandmastodonsandgreatseasairpents?"
"Well,Idon'tknowaboutthat.Idon'tthinkhemakesanyclaimsofthatkind.ButIdobelievehehasgotsomethingnew."
"ThenforHeaven'ssake,man,writeitup!"
"I'mlongingto,butallIknowhegavemeinconfidenceandonconditionthatIdidn't."IcondensedintoafewsentencestheProfessor'snarrative."That'showitstands."
McArdlelookeddeeplyincredulous.
"Well,Mr.Malone,"hesaidatlast,"aboutthisscientificmeetingto-nighttherecanbenoprivacyaboutthat,anyhow.Idon'tsupposeanypaperwillwanttoreportit,forWaldronhasbeenreportedalreadyadozentimes,andnooneisawarethatChallengerwillspeak.Wemaygetascoop,ifwearelucky.You'llbethereinanycase,soyou'lljustgiveusaprettyfullreport.I'llkeepspaceuptomidnight."
Mydaywasabusyone,andIhadanearlydinnerattheSavageClubwithTarpHenry,towho