第39部分(第1/7 页)

To　return　to　the　history　of　“King　Solomon’s　Mines。”　Ultimately　that　book　found　its　way　to　Messrs。　Cassells；　remended　to　them；　I　believe；　by　Mr。　Henley。　Subsequently　Henley　reproached　me　with　having　taken　it　out　of　his　hands；　and　said　that　he　could　have　got　me　much　better　terms。　But　I　never　did　take　it　out　of　his　hands；　indeed　I　never　knew　that　it　was　in　his　hands。　If　my　memory　serves　me；　I　heard　direct　from　Messrs。　Cassells　informing　me　that　they　would　publish　the　book　and　asking　me　to　call　re　the　agreement。

At　any　rate　I　called　and　in　that　great　building　saw　a　business…like　editor　whose　name　I　never　knew。　He　pointed　out　that　the　pany　was　prepared　to　offer　me　an　alternative　agreement。　The　first　of　the　two　agreements　conveyed　the　copyright　to　Messrs。　Cassells　in　return　for　a　sum　of；　I　think；　100　pounds　paid　down。　The　second　offered　me　50　pounds　on　account　of　royalties；　to　be　calculated　“at　the　rate　of　ten　per　cent。　of　the　published　price　of　the　book　on　all　copies　sold　by　them　during　the　continuance　of　the　copyright；　reckoning　thirteen　copies　to　the　twelve。”

After　my　previous　experiences　as　an　author　100　pounds　on　the　nail　had　great　attractions。　I　had　no　particular　belief　in　the　story　which　I　had　thrown　off　in　my　leisure　hours　as　a　mere　jeu　d’esprit；　especially　after　its　rejection　in　other　quarters。　Even　Mr。　Lang’s　kind　expressions　of　opinion　carried　no　conviction　to　my　mind；　for　I　did　not　understand　all　that　it　meant　ing　from　such　a　source。　I　set　him　down　as　an　amiable　gentleman　with　a　taste　for　savages　and　boys’　books；　it　did　not　occur　to　me　that　he　saw　such　things　every　day；　and　that　when　he　wrote　to　one　who　was　practically　a　stranger　that　he　almost　preferred　this　particular　boys’　book　to　“Treasure　Island；”　the　pliment　was　high　and　indeed　extraordinar