“I see that,” said Peter; “but what really is interesting to me is this peasant's blindness and the monkey other men make of him--”
“I'm glad you spoke of that, for it is a thing to avoid. Interesting, I grant, but not popular with our kind of press. We are not servants of the minority or the elect. You'll find Boylan exploiting the army he's with--just as another might have done under Napoleon. By the way, where are you going to-night?”
“I'm going to sit at the feet of the most genial anarchist at large. His name is Fallows, an American, who has been ten years in Russia among the peasants.”
“Duke Fallows--I know of him. When did he come to town?”
“Peter, how did you get next?” Lonegan looked a bit in awe at the other.
“I was asked to one of his private audiences last night.”
Peter knew that Lonegan had many things to ask by the quick tone in which he spoke the first question.
“Yes, if one lets go. He has learned how to use his power. He has brought forth his young upon the bare rocks, as somebody said.”
“A man ought not to be afraid to listen if there's a chance for him to be proved wrong--”
“Correct, absolutely. I am merely thinking about our job.”
“A man gets in the habit of thinking about his job--doesn't he?”
“Did he tell you about the plowman of Liaoyang?”
“No, but my companion did. Fallows must have seen that episode rather clearly.”
“Let's not get off the job business, Peter. As I was saying, the truth isn't popular--”
“No, and I don't like the feel of saying it, but it's very much to the point--”
“Mowbray, we are taking our bread, and its cake, too, from a paper that expects us to exploit the orthodox heroics. The pity and atrocious sham of it all has its side. But the fact still remains its side does not furnish the stuff that American newspapers pay men and cable tolls to furnish.”
“Won't you come to-night?” Peter asked laughing. “Perhaps we can both reach the high point some day when we have earned the right to be poor.”
“That's a higher point than I dream of, Peter. I can't help but think what a nest you've got into. Of course, I mean with Fallows and his kind--”
“Heretofore the job has been served. Come along with me and meet Duke Fallows again--”
“No. I must go back to the wire for the present. Boylan would be shocked, too. By the way, I've got a bid in for you with General Kohlvihr. Boylan is to help me put it through, of course. The more decorated they are the more they fall for Boylan. There's a chance that you'll start south with a column within two days. So you'd better get at that encyclopedia stuff--”