第39部分(第2/7 頁)

y。　So　after　a　brief　moment　of　reflection　I　told　the　business…like　editor　that　I　would　sell　the　copyright　for　100　pounds；　and　he　departed　to　fetch　the　agreement。

As　it　chanced；　however；　there　sat　in　the　corner　of　the　room　a　quiet　clerk；　whom　I　had　never　even　noticed。　When　the　editor　had　departed　this　unobtrusive　gentleman　addressed　me。

“Mr。　Haggard；”　he　said　in　a　warning　voice；　“if　I　were　you　I　would　take　the　other　agreement。”

Then　hearing　some　noise；　once　more　he　became　absorbed　in　his　work；　and　I　understood　that　the　conversation　was　not　to　be　continued。

Still　a　moment　remained　for　thought。

“Why　the　dickens；”　I　reflected　to　myself；　“did　he　say　that　to　me？　He　must　have　had　some　reason。”　The　business…like　editor　re…entered　the　room　bearing　the　document　in　hand。

“I　have　changed　my　mind；”　I　said　as　he　presented　it　to　me：　“I　will　not　sell　the　copyright；　I　will　take　the　royalty　agreement。”

Undoubtedly　the　quiet　clerk　in　the　corner；　who　was　acquainted　with　the　estimate　that　had　been　formed　of　the　book　by　his　employers；　did　me　a　very　good　turn；　as　did　my　knowledge　of　men　when　I　acted　so　promptly　on　his　hint。

The　royalty　that　I　accepted　might　have　been　higher；　at　any　rate　after　the　sale　of　a　certain　number　of　copies；　but　it　was　infinitely　better　than　the　acceptance　of　a　small　sum　down　for　the　copyright　of　“King　Solomon’s　Mines；”　of　which　the　sale　has　been　very　great　and　at　present　shows　signs　of　increase　rather　than　of　diminution。

Many　years　later　this　gentleman　wrote　reminding　me　of　the　incident　and　forwarding　a　book　that　he　had　published。

“King　Solomon’s　Mines；”　which　was　produced　as　a　five…shilling　book；　proved　an　instant　success。　Published　about　the　beginning　of　October；　on　December　9th　Messrs。　Cassells　wr