'As I said a moment ago, we are not in a position to secure it. It is premature to talk of advertising at the present state of affairs.'
'I think, you know, it will be to your interest to take the half-page. The price is three hundred pounds, and besides that amount we should like to have some shares in the company.'
'Do you mean three hundred pounds for one insertion of the advertisement?'
'Yes.'
'Doesn't that strike you as being a trifle exorbitant? Your paper has a comparatively limited circulation, and they do not ask us such a price even in the large dailies.'
'Ah, my dear sir, the large dailies are quite different. They have a tremendous circulation, it is true, but it is not the kind of circulation we have. No other paper circulates so largely among investors as the Financial Field. It is read by exactly the class of people you desire to reach, and I may say that, except through the Financial Field, you cannot get at some of the best men in the City.'
'Well, admitting all that, as I have said once or twice, we are not yet in a position to give an advertisement.'
'Then, I am very sorry to say that we cannot, on Monday, publish the article I have shown you.'
'Very well; I cannot help it. You are not compelled to print it unless you wish. I am not sure, either, that publishing the article on Monday would do us any good. It would be premature, as I say. We are not yet ready to court publicity until we have had our first meeting of proposed stockholders.'
'When is your first meeting of stockholders?'