human
I beg your pardon, he said,
gpt
No disturbance,
human
Long ago I called to see you on the errand I have now, but you were not in town. It was, Mr. Mavick, and Philip hesitated and looked down,
gpt
Ah, I did not hear of it.
human
No? Well, Mr. Mavick, I was pretty presumptuous, for I had no foothold in the city, except a law clerkship.
gpt
I remember--Hunt, Sharp & Tweedle; why didn't you keep it?
human
I wasn't fitted for the law.
gpt
Oh, literature? Does literature pay?
human
Not in itself, not for many, and Philip forced a laugh.
gpt
But it led to a situation in a first-rate publishing house--an apprenticeship that has now given me a position that seems to be permanent, with prospects beyond, and a very fair salary. It would not seem much to you, Mr. Mavick,
human
I don't know, replied Mr. Mavick.
gpt
If a fellow has any sort of salary these times, I should advise him to hold on to it. By-the-way, Mr. Burnett, Hunt's a Republican, isn't he?
human
He was, replied Philip,
gpt
Do you happen to know whether he knows Bilbrick, the present Collector?
human
Mr. Bilbrick used to be a client of his.
gpt
Just so. I think I'll see Hunt. A salary isn't a bad thing for a--for a man who has retired pretty much from business. But you were saying, Mr. Burnett?
human
I was going to say, Mr. Mavick, that there was a little something more than my salary that I can count on pretty regularly now from the magazines, and I have had another story, a novel, accepted, and--you won't think me vain--the publisher says it will go; if it doesn't have a big sale he will--
gpt
Make it up to you?
human
Not exactly, and Philip laughed;
gpt
I suppose it is a kind of lottery, like most things. The publishers have to take risks. The only harm I wish them is that they were compelled to read all the stuff they try to make us read. Ah, well. Mr. Burnett, I hope you have made a hit. It is pretty much the same thing in our business. The publisher bulls his own book and bears the other fellow's. Is it a New York story?
human
Partly; things come to a focus here, you know.
gpt
I could give you points. It's a devil of a place. I guess the novelists are too near to see the romance of it. When I was in Rome I amused myself by diving into the mediaeval records. Steel and poison were the weapons then. We have a different method now, but it comes to the same thing, and we say we are more civilized. I think our way is more devilishly dramatic than the old brute fashion. Yes, I could give you points.
human
I should be greatly obliged, said Philip, seeing the way to bring the conversation back to its starting point;
gpt
Oh, replied Mavick, with more good-humor in his laugh than he had shown before,
human
No, not since that dinner at the Van Cortlandts'.
gpt
Huh! for myself, I should be pleased to see you any time, Mr. Burnett. Mrs. Mavick hasn't felt like seeing anybody lately. But I'll see, I'll see.
human
I'm glad you are doing well, Mr. Mavick added;