'Well,' Mr. Snyder expansively and gaily welcomed him, 'come and sit down, my young friend.'
'Anything wrong?' Henry asked.
'No,' said Mark. 'But I've postponed publication of the Q. C. for a month.'
In his letters Mr. Snyder always referred to A Question of Cubits as the Q. C.
'What on earth for?' exclaimed Henry.
He was not pleased. In strict truth, no one of his innumerable admirers was more keenly anxious for the appearance of that book than Henry himself. His appetite for notoriety and boom grew by what it fed on. He expected something colossal, and he expected it soon.
'Both in England and America,' said Snyder.
'But why?'
'Serial rights,' said Snyder impressively. 'I told you some time since I might have a surprise for you, and I've got one. I fancied I might sell the serial rights in England to Macalistairs, at my own price, but they thought the end was too sad. However, I've done business in New York with Gordon's Weekly. They'll issue the Q. C. in four instalments. It was really settled last week, but I had to arrange with Spring Onions. They've paid cash. I made 'em. How much d'you think?'