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Chapter 7

           Thepublicistheauthor’sbestfriendandtruestcritic.Butifyouprefertodespiseit,incompanywithalltheverylittleliterature-mongerswhoformamutualadmirationsociety,Itellyouwhattodo—printjusttwentycopiesofyourbookandpresentthesetotheleadingreviewers,andwhentheyhavewrittenyouup(astheywilldo—I’lltakecareofthat)letyourpublisheradvertizetotheeffectthatthe‘FirstandSecondLargeEditions’ofthenewnovelbyGeoffreyTempest,areexhausted,onehundredthousandcopieshavingbeensoldinaweek!Ifthatdoesnotwakenuptheworldingeneral,Ishallbemuchsurprised!"

           Ilaughed—Iwasgraduallygettingintoabetterhumour.

           "Itwouldbequiteasfairaplanofactionasisadoptedbymanymodernpublishers,"Isaid—"Theloudhawkingofliterarywaresnow-a-daysremindsmeoftherivalshoutingofcostermongersinalowneighbourhood.ButIwillnotgoquitesofar—I’llwinmyfamelegitimatelyifIcan."

           "Youcan’t!"declaredLuciowithaserenesmile—"It’simpossible.Youaretoorich.ThatofitselfisnotlegitimateinLiterature,whichgreatartgenerallyelectstowearpovertyinitsbutton-holeasaflowerofgrace.Thefightcannotbeequalinsuchcircumstances.Thefactthatyouareamillionairemustweighthebalanceapparentlyinyourfavourforatime.Theworldcannotresistmoney.IfI,forexample,becameanauthor,Ishouldprobablywithmywealthandinfluence,burnupeveryoneelse’slaurels.

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