Baby Paul, perhaps thinking that our conversation had lasted
long enough, gave the signal for me to retire. He is a rather impatient
young man, and I stepped out, closing the door behind me, and went to my
room where I thankfully removed the frock coat, after which, David was
himself again.

Richetti, I have heard, is a marvelous teacher, and there is no better
judge of the possibilities of a voice. I am going to interview him and
explain the intricacies of the case. Then, I shall tell him that if he
sees the slightest chance he will put me under lasting obligation by
sending the bills to me, meanwhile, assuring Frances that he is teaching
her gratuitously, in order to enhance his reputation by turning out such
a consummate artist. She will fall in my snare and be captured by my
wiles.

There are various fashions, I have always heard, of causing the demise
of a cat. Here is where the shrewd and clever conspirator is going to
use the plots of his fiction in real life. I am thankful that my
professional training is at last to serve me so well!

CHAPTER XV

THE LIGHTNING STROKE

More days have gone by. This morning I happened to meet Jamieson, who is
always exceedingly kind and urbane to his flock of authors.

"My dear fellow," he told me, "you must not be discouraged if the 'Land
o' Love' does not sell quite so well as some of the others, for I have
not the slightest doubt that your next book will more than make up for
it. A man is not a machine and he cannot always maintain the same level
of accomplishment. We are only printing a couple of thousand copies to
start with, but, of course, your advance payment, on the day of
publication, will be the same as usual."

He said all this so pleasantly that I almost forgot that this payment
was called for on my contract and felt personally obliged to him.

"We will send you a few advance copies by the end of the week," he said.
"It might pay you to look one of them over, carefully. You have not
read the thing for a good many months, now, and you will get a better
perspective on it. I have no doubt that you will agree with me that a
return to your former manner is rather advisable. I am ever so glad to
have seen you. Now, don't worry over this because you have not yet
written half the good stuff that's in you, and I certainly look forward
to a big seller from you, some day."

I shook hands with him, feeling greatly indebted, and walked slowly
home. There can be f