Chapter 10

“I have never spoken to him! But it is unnecessary. A leader-writer, you say? On behalf of an old-established and soundly Conservative organ, of course? Such vacancies, I take it, are rare?” “Very rare. The leader-writer of the _Universe_ is about to become editor. That will create a vacancy. But poor McIvor is not in the running.” “How is that?” “Well—your friend, Repton, is a big shareholder—managing director. And Repton—for some reason—is no friend to McIvor.” “The reason is evident to me, Raymond. But I am wast…