In such a world as the present, however, things seldom pan out as they should. Mame had visions of a contract that would astonish Fleet Street; but Elmer’s offer, when it came, was considerably less than she expected. But in Lady Violet’s opinion it was distinctly good.
However, Lady Violet did not know the precise circumstances in which the offer had been made. She was still in the dark as to the brilliant coup Mame had illicitly brought off. Therefore Mame had no hesitation in turning it down.
“No, honey, we are out for something bigger. I think I’ll cable Elmer our rock-bottom terms.”
“Pray what do you consider they ought to be?”
“We must have a two-year contract to cable six columns every Friday at six hundred dollars a week.”
Lady Violet was frankly astonished. “Surely, we can’t hope to get that?”
“Oh, we’ll get it, or I should worry.” Mame sounded wonderfully cheerful. “I’ll go right along now and send that cable.”
“But suppose we kill the nice goose that is going to lay the golden eggs?”
Mame was prepared to risk that. “We are worth every dime of the money. And they know it just as well as we do.”
Her friend did a sum in her head. “Do you realise that you are demanding thirty thousand dollars a year?”