[LUCY THE LITERARY AGENT]
"I know you will agree with me," said Lucy, "that these stories by Perth Dewar are quite remarkable, quite the most distinctive things of the kind that have been done in years, and that your readers will like them immensely."
Ethridge the Editor said nothing. It was unwise to contradict her; for of all the personal-touch literary agents, Lucy was the personal-touchiest. So he let her run on and on, trusting that eventually she would run down. Also she wasn't bad looking—in her aggressive way.
"You've read them?" she queried suddenly.
"Why, certainly," he lied, glancing with studied casualness at the Reader's Report slip attached to the blue manuscript cover.
Ethridge never read anything he could possibly avoid reading. He was one of those successful editors who edit by belonging to the best clubs and attending the right teas. Mere perusal of manuscripts was not particularly in his line.
The Report slip said: "Costume stories of Holland in the 17th Century. Only moderately well done. Not suitable for this magazine."