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Chapter 9

           Itwillcostyou—sayahundredguineas—perhapsatriflemore.Doyoumindthat?"

           "Notintheleast!"Ireplied,stillvastlyamused.

           Hemeditatedamoment—thendrewhischairclosertomineandloweredhisvoicealittle.

           "YouunderstandIsuppose,thatIshallonlyissuetwohundredandfiftycopiesatfirst?"

           Thislimitednumberseemedtomeabsurd,andIprotestedvehemently.

           "Suchanideaisridiculous!"Isaid—"youcannotsupplythetradewithsuchascantyedition."

           "Wait,mydearsir,wait—youaretooimpatient.Youdonotgivemetimetoexplain.Allthesetwohundredandfiftywillbegivenawaybymeintheproperquartersonthedayofpublication—nevermindhow—theymustbegivenaway—"

           "Why?"

           "Why?"andtheworthyMorgesonlaughedsweetly—"Isee,mydearMrTempest,youarelikemostmenofgenius—youdonotunderstandbusiness.Thereasonwhywegivethefirsttwohundredandfiftycopiesawayisinordertobeabletoannounceatonceinallthepapersthat‘TheFirstLargeEditionoftheNewNovelbyGeoffreyTempestbeingexhaustedonthedayofpublication,aSecondisinRapidPreparation.’Youseewethushoodwinkthepublic,whoofcoursearenotinoursecrets,andarenottoknowwhetheraneditionistwohundredortwothousand.TheSecondEditionwillofcoursebereadybehindthescenes,andwillconsistofanothertwohundredandfifty."

           "Doyoucallthatcourseofprocedurehonest?"Iaskedquietly.

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