Reasonable Author.—Your commendation is most pleasing to me. I was at no time in doubt of your favorable action in the matter.
C. P.—You did not hear me out. Publication of a book entails a considerable expense.
R. A.—Naturally.
C. P.—The money does not always come back.
R. A.—I have been so informed. Publishers sometimes accept work that is very bad literature.
C. P.—Yes, we try to.
R. A.—Try to? You cannot mean that you prefer such work.
C. P.—We must publish what will sell. Do you read the most popular books of the year—the “best-selling” novels?—nearly all “best sellers” are novels.
R. A.—God forbid! I sometimes look at them.
C. P.—Do you ever find one that has any literary merit?