"The regular way," said Jack, "would be to send it to a firm in New York, or Boston, or Philadelphia."
"And then what?"
"They would have a critic read it and tell them whether it was suitable."
"He'd be sure to say it was; but then what?"
"Then they would have it printed and bound, and advertise it in the papers, and sell it, and send it to other stores to be sold."
"But where would our profits come from?"
"Oh, they would pay you ten per cent. on all they sold."
"And how many do you think they would sell?"
"Nobody can tell," said Jack. "Different books sell differently—all the way from none at all up to a great many."
Ned borrowed Jack's pencil, and figured for two or three minutes.