Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
Inthesethingsthereisinvariablyacertainamountofgiveandtake,anditfelltomefinallytodothegivingreluctantlyenough.EvenwhenIhadgotoutofeverything,onecantankerouscreditorsawfittobemalignant.Perhapsyouhavemetthatflamingsenseofoutragedvirtue,orperhapsyouhaveonlyfeltit.Heranmehard.Itseemedtome,atlast,thattherewasnothingforitbuttowriteaplay,unlessIwantedtodrudgeformylivingasaclerk.Ihaveacertainimagination,andluxurioustastes,andImeanttomakeavigorousfightforitbeforethatfateovertookme.Inadditiontomybeliefinmypowersasabusinessman,IhadalwaysinthosedayshadanideathatIwasequaltowritingaverygoodplay.Itisnot,Ibelieve,averyuncommonpersuasion.Iknewthereisnothingamancandooutsidelegitimatebusinesstransactionsthathassuchopulentpossibilities,andveryprobablythatbiasedmyopinion.Ihad,indeed,gotintothehabitofregardingthisunwrittendramaasaconvenientlittlereserveputbyforarainyday.Thatrainydayhadcome,andIsettowork.
IsoondiscoveredthatwritingaplaywasalongerbusinessthanIhadsupposed;atfirstIhadreckonedtendaysforit,anditwastohaveapied-à-terrewhileitwasinhandthatIcametoLympne.Ireckonedmyselfluckyingettingthatlittlebungalow.Igotitonathreeyears’agreement.Iputinafewsticksoffurniture,andwhiletheplaywasinhandIdidmyowncooking.MycookingwouldhaveshockedMrs.Bond.Andyet,youknow,ithadflavour.
