“What Mr. Wymett did is not under discussion.” “I’ll say this for it, though,” interjected Galpin. “We’re not going to make the kind of living in the kind of way that Mr. Wymett made his. Get that, you men?” The stir that this roused was sufficient evidence of general knowledge concerning The Guardian’s former management. “Now, you’re talking!” said Betts. “Dot’s goot. I like dot,” added Stockmuller. It was the first evidence of approval that the new policy had elicited. “So much having been said,” proceeded Jeremy: “I’ll tell you gentlemen this. The Guardian is going to be run straight. If you ever see any evidence that it is n’t, I want to know it.” “That’s fine, Mr. Robson,” said Ellison warmly. “That’s the kind of thing we want to hear. We’re all for that and will wish you the success you deserve. And now there’s one more matter I think ought to be taken up here. We considered it at the last meeting of the association, and this is as good a time and place as any to thrash it out. Speaking for myself and associates, Mr. Robson, we’d like to know what consideration an advertiser in The Guardian may expect at its hands.” “Consideration?” Jeremy said, puzzled. “In the matter of news.” Another side-glance at Galpin apprised Jeremy that this was at least as important as anything that had gone before. “I’m afraid that I shall have to ask you to explain,” said Jeremy. “I will give you an example: the case which we had up for discussion at our last meeting. It concerns one of our members, Mr. Barclay, of Barclay & Bull, shoe dealers. Barclay & Bull are liberal advertisers in The Guardian, Mr. Robson.” “Yes.” “Last Tuesday The Guardian published a report of the Blair Street Methodist Church meeting, which put Mr. Barclay in a quite unfortunate light.” “Was n’t our report accurate?” “I am not saying whether it was accurate or inaccurate,” returned Ellison conservatively. “The point is that it was unfortunate. It subjected Mr. Barclay to criticism. How could Mr. Barclay foresee that The Guardian, which his firm had always patronized, would catch up a hasty and somewhat violent expression used in the heat of debate, and publish it?” “The meeting was a public meeting. Why should n’t we report it?” “My dear young friend, I am endeavoring to tell you. Do you not owe something to Mr. Barclay, as an advertiser?” “Does Mr. Barclay owe anything to me because I buy my shoes at his store?” Mr. Ellison’s face shone with the prognostication of argumentative triumph. “Pree-cisely the point! He does. He owes you courtesy as a patron. You owe him courtesy as a patron. That article should, if I may express an opinion, have omitted his name.” “I see. Because Mr. Barclay is an advertiser in The Guardian.” “Quite so,” beamed Ellison. “But I’m selling Mr. Barclay advertising, not news.” “The courtesy due to an--”