He addressed the question to both, snuffing the air with head thrown back.
‘What if you have no convictions?’ asked Peak.
‘Then you are incapable of happiness in any worthy sense! You may graze, but you will never feast.’
The listeners joined in laughter, and Malkin, after a moment’s hesitation, allowed his face to relax in good-humoured sympathy.
‘Now look here!’ he cried. ‘You—Earwaker; suppose you sent conscience to the devil, and set yourself to please Runcorn by increasing the circulation of your paper by whatever means. You would flourish, undoubtedly. In a short time you would be chief editor, and your pockets would burst with money. But what about your peace of mind? What about happiness?’
‘Why, I’m disposed to agree with Peak,’ answered the journalist. ‘If I could take that l
