Pooter and Carrie are invited to dine at Mr. Franching’s to meet an American journalist, Mr. Hardfur Huttle. The journalist dominates the dinner conversation and rants about mediocrity, appealing to Pooter for support.

The implied insult emerges more openly as Huttle says mediocrity belongs to a man with a soft beard and a tie that hooks on, both of which describe Pooter. He also criticizes Mr. Franching’s modest domestic arrangement and champagne by pretending to praise his host for not taking airs. Carrie later compares the man to Lupin, which bothers Pooter. He is happy that Lupin has original ideas but hopes the ideas are not dangerous. He concludes by attributing his own happiness to his lack of ambition.

Lupin is discharged from Mr. Perkupp’s office after referring their most valued client to another firm. Mr. Perkupp assures Pooter that he does not believe Pooter had anything to do with Lupin’s treachery. Hoping to regain the client’s business, he asks Pooter to write to the man, Mr. Crowbillon, to explain that the firm only hired Lupin out of respect for Pooter. Lupin, meanwhile, mended fences with Murray Posh and accepted the gift of one of his hats.

Pooter sends the letter and receives a brief reply from Mr.