"Oh, Mr. St. John," she said, "I've been going to ask you—in fact, for a long, long time I have wanted to know, and I wonder now if you won't tell me: how do authors"—she paused significantly—"how do authors get their books accepted?"
A dress-shirt crackled, but was frowned upon.
"What did he say?" asked the lady who was deaf.
"He hasn't said anything yet," roared Mr. Buxton.
"Oh!"
"Do tell us," urged Mrs. Buhl. "Do, Mr. St. John. I almost called you Karl."
"Was it a conundrum?" inquired the deaf lady, perceiving that it had been a poser.
"No. Question: how do authors get their books accepted?"
"Yes—how do they?" urged Mrs. Buhl.
"Why," said the lion at last, for all the table hung upon his answer, "by writing them well enough—I suppose."