moment of recognition had arrived at last.
In London Frensic and Sonia were also into a state of anticipation, less wild and with sombre overtones.
'What happens if he refuses?' asked Sonia as Frensic paced his office.
'God alone knows,' said Frensic. 'You heard what Cadwalladine said, 'Do what you please but in no way involve my client.' So it's Piper or bust.'
'At least I managed to squeeze another twenty-five thousand dollars out of Hutchmeyer for the tour, plus expenses,' said Sonia. 'I should have thought that was a sufficient inducement.'
Frensic had doubts. 'With anyone else,' he said, 'but Piper has principles. For God's sake don't leave a copy of the proofs of Pause around where he can see what he's supposed to have written.'
'He's bound to read the book sometime.'
'Yes, but I want him signed up for the tour first and with some of Hutchmeyer's money in his pocket. He won't find it so easy to back out then.'
'And you really think the Corkadales offer to publish Search For a Lost Childhood will grab him?'
'Our trump card,' said Frensic. 'What you've got to realize is that with Piper we are treating a subspecies of lunacy known as dementia novella or bibliomania. The symptoms are a wholly irrational urge to get into print. Well, I'm getting Piper into print. I've even got him one thousand pounds which is incredible considering the garbled rubbish he writes. He's being paid twenty-five thousand dollars to make the tour. Now all we've got to do is play our cards right and he'll go. The Corkadales contract is our ace. I mean, the man would murder his own mother to get Search published.'
'I thought you said his parents were dead,' said Sonia.
'They are,' said Frensic. 'To the best of my knowledge the poor fellow has no living relatives. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we aren't his nearest and dearest.'
'It's amazing what twenty per cent commission on two million dollars will do to some people,' said Sonia. 'I've never thought of you in the role of a foster-father.'
It was amazing what the prospect of having his novel published had done to Piper's morale. He arrived in Lanyard Lane wearing the blue suit he kept for formal visits to London and an expression of smug self-satisfaction that alarmed Frensic. He preferred his authors subdued and a little depressed.
'I'd like you to meet Miss Futtle, my partner,' he said when Piper entered. 'She deals with the American side of the business.'
'Charmed,' said Piper bowing slightly, a habit he had derived from Hans Castorp.
'I just adored your book,' said Sonia, 'I think it's marvellous.'
'You did?' said Piper.
'So insightful,' said Sonia, 'so deeply significant.'
In the background Frensic stirred uncomfortably. He would have chosen less brazen tactics and Sonia's accent, borrowed, he suspected, from Georgia in 1861, disturbed him. On the other hand it seemed to affect Piper favourably. He was blushing.
'Very kind of you to say so,' he murmured.
Frensic asserted himself. 'Now, as to the matter of Corkadales contract to publish Search,' he began and looked at his watch. 'Why don't we go down and discuss the whole thing over a drink?'
They went downstairs to the pub across the road and while Frensic bought drinks Sonia continued her assault.
'Corkadales are one of the oldest publishing houses in London. They are terribly prestigious but I just think we've got to do everything to see your work reaches a wide audience.'
'The thing is,' said Frensic, returning with two single gin and tonics for himself and Sonia and a double for Piper, 'that you need exposure. Corkadales will do for a start but their sales
