Enthusiastic Young Miss: TO THINK OF YOUR BEING A REAL LITERARY MAN! I DO SO LONG TO KNOW HOW YOU WRITE THINGS. CANT YOU EXPLAIN IT?
Venerable Hack: IT IS THE SIMPLEST THING. YOU HAVE A MIND SUITABLY PREPARED. YOU GET AN IDEA. THE IDEA BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE MIND CAUSES FERMENTATION, DURING WHICH A SCUM RISES TO THE TOP AND IS CAREFULLY REMOVED, LEAVING A RESIDUE OF CLEAR THOUGHT. THIS YOU BOTTLE UP FOR YOUR OWN USE. THE SCUM YOU SELL TO A PUBLISHER.
