anything to do with it."

Banborough laughed, and returned to the charge.

"So I came abroad," he continued, "and approached the most respectable
and conservative firm of publishers I could find in New York."

"Was that out of consideration for the Bishop?"

"I thought it might sweeten the pill. But somehow the book doesn't
sell."

"Advertising, my boy--that's the word."

"The traditions of the firm forbid it," objected Banborough.

"Traditions! What's any country less than a thousand years old got to do
with traditions?" spluttered Marchmont. "I knew a Chicago author who got
a divorce every time he produced a new novel. They sold like hot cakes."

"And the wives?"

"Received ten per cent. of the profits as alimony."

"Talk sense, and say something scandalous about me in the _Leader_. What
possessed you, anyway, to join such a disgraceful sheet?"

"If I'd an entailed estate and an hereditary bishopric, I wouldn't. As
it is, it pays."

"The bishopric isn't hereditary," said Cecil. "I wish it were. Then I
might have a chance of spending my life in the odour of sanctity and
idleness, and the entail is--a dream."

"So you write novels," retorted Marchmont, "that are neither indecent
nor political, and expect 'em to succeed. Callow youth! Well, I must be
off to the office. I've some copy up my sleeve, and if it's a go it'll
give your book the biggest boom a novel ever had."

"Are you speaking the truth?" said the Englishman. "I beg your pardon. I
forgot it was out of professional hours."

"Wait and see," replied the journalist, as he strolled out of the club.

* * * * *

"Hi, Marchmont, I've got a detail for you!" called the editor, making
the last correction on a belated form and attempting to revivify a cigar
that had long gone out.

"Yes?" queried Marchmont, slipping off his coat and slipping on a pair
of straw cuffs, which was the chief reason why he always sported
immaculate linen.

"We're on the track of a big thing. Perhaps you don't know that the
President has delivered an ultimatum, and that our Minister at Madrid
has received his passports?"

"Saw it on the bulletin-board as I came in," said his subordinate
laconically.

"Well, it's a foregone conclusion that the Spanish Legation will
establish a secret service in this country, and the paper that shows it
up will achieve the biggest scoop on record."

"Naturally. But what then?"

"Why, I give the detail