Chapter XVIII
In the Night Editor's Room
The largest Catholic or popular newspaper, The People's Friend, had not a very large editorial staff, and so at 9.30 p. m. there were only two men in the room—Kostal, the night editor (Heaven knows why night editors' pipes have such an amazing stink), and Father Jost, who sat writing the leader for the next issue and whistling between his teeth.
At that moment Novotny, the printer, came in with the wet proofs.
"Well, how about the leader, gentlemen, the leader?" he growled. "When are we going to set it?"
Father Jost stopped humming. "Ready in a minute, Novotny," he said quickly. "There's just a word I can't get. Have we already had 'satanic machinations'?"
"The day before yesterday."
"Aha. And has 'treacherous onslaught' been used too?"
"Yes, we've had that."
"'Knavish imposture'?"
144
