Maddox was not aware that no other combination of figures could have excited precisely those emotions; three hundred and fifty being the exact sum that Rickman needed for the accomplishment of his purpose.  It brought his dream nearer to him by a year.  A year?  Why, it did more.  He had only to ask and Maddox would advance the money.  His dream was now, this moment, within his grasp.

And all he could say was, “I say, you know, this is awfully good of you.”

“Good of you, Rickets, to take the thing off my hands.  I can’t very well run a monthly and a weekly with all my other jobs thrown in.”

“The question is whether I can manage two weeklies and the other things.”

“No, you can’t.  You’re not built that way.  But if you take The Planet, you can afford to chuck Metropolis.  Tell you the truth, that’s one reason why I want you to take it.”

Some of the joy died out of Rickman’s face.

“The other reason is, of course, that I can’t think of a better man.”

“It’s awfully good of you to think of me at all.  But why do you want me to chuck Metropolis?”

“Never mind why.  I don’t say The Planet is the best imaginable place for you, nor are you the best imaginable man for The Planet; but I really can’t think of a better.”

“No, but why—­”

“(Confound him, why can’t he leave it alone?  I shall lose my temper in another minute,” said Maddox to himself.) “The question is, would you like it?  Because, if you wouldn’t, don’t imagine you’ve got to take it to oblige me.”

“Of course I’d like it.  There isn’t anything I’d like so well.”

“It’s settled then.”

It might have been, but Rickman turned on him again with his ungovernable “Why?”

“If you’d like it, Ricky, there’s nothing more to be said.  I know it isn’t exactly a sumptuous berth for you, but it’s a bit better salary.”

“I’m not thinking of the salary.  Oh, yes, I am, though; God forgive me, I’m thinking of nothing else.”

“Salary apart,” said Maddox, with the least touch of resentment, “it’s a better thing for you to edit The Planet than to sub-edit Metropolis.”

“Of course it is.  Still, I should like to know why you want me to throw Jewdwine over.”

“Hang Jewdwine.  I said Metropolis.”

“I’m glad you admit the distinction.”

“I don’t admit it.”

“Why do you want me to throw the thing over, then?  Do you mean that I can’t work for you and Jewdwine at the same time?”

“I never said anything about Jewdwine at all.  But—­if you will have it—­I can’t say I consider the connection desirable for the editor of The Planet.”

“I think I’m the best judge of that.”

“I said—­for the editor of The Planet.”

“For the editor of The Planet then, why not?”