Frensic, returning this time with two singles and a triple for Piper, intervened. 'Because Hutchmeyer is one of those bastards who would take advantage of the author and drop his price,' he said.
'Who's Hutchmeyer?' asked Piper.
Frensic looked at Sonia. 'You tell him.'
'He just happens to be about the biggest publisher in the States. He sells more books than all the publishers in London and if he buys you you're made.'
'And if he doesn't it's touch and go,' said Frensic.
Sonia took up the running. 'If we could get Hutchmeyer to buy Search your problems would be over. You'd have guaranteed sales and enough money to go on writing for ever.'
Piper considered this glorious prospect and sipped his triple gin. This was the ecstasy he had been waiting so many years for, the knowledge that at last he was going to see Search in print and if Hutchmeyer could be persuaded to buy it...ah bliss! An idea grew in his befuddled mind. Sonia saw it dawning and jogged it along.
'If there was only some way of bringing you and Hutchmeyer together,' she said. 'I mean, supposing he thought you had written Pause...'
But Piper was there already. 'Then he'd buy Search' he said and was smitten by immediate doubts. 'But wouldn't the author of the other book mind?'
'Mind?' said Frensic. 'My dear fellow, you would be doing him a favour. He's never going to write another book and if Hutchmeyer refuses to go ahead with the deal...'
'And all you would have to do is go and take his place on the promotional tour,' said Sonia. 'It's as simple as that.'
Frensic put in his oar. 'And you would be paid twenty-five thousand dollars and all expenses into the bargain.'
'It would be marvellous publicity,' said Sonia. 'Just the sort of break you need.'
Piper absolutely agreed. It was just the sort of break he needed. 'But wouldn't it be illegal? Me going around pretending I'd written a book I hadn't?' he asked.
'You'd naturally have the real author's permission. In writing.
There would be nothing illegal about it. Hutchmeyer wouldn't have to know, but then he doesn't read the books he buys and he's simply a businessman in books. All he wants is an author to go round signing books and putting in an appearance. In addition to which he has taken an option on the author's second novel.'
'But I thought you said the author couldn't write a second book?' said Piper.
'Exactly,' said Frensic, 'so Hutchmeyer's second book from the same author would be Search for a Lost Childhood.'
'You'd be in and made,' said Sonia. 'With Hutchmeyer behind you, you couldn't go wrong.'
They went round the corner to the Italian restaurant and continued the discussion. There was still something bothering Piper. 'But if Corkadales want to buy Search isn't that going to make things difficult. They know the author of this other book.'
Frensic shook his head. 'Not a chance. You see we handled his work for him and he can't come to London so it's all between the three of us. No one else will ever know.'
Piper smiled down into his spaghetti. It was all so simple. He was on the brink of recognition. He looked up into Sonia's face. 'Oh well. All's fair in love and war,' he said, and Sonia smiled back. She raised her glass. 'I'll drink to that,' she murmured.
'To the making of an author,' said Frensic.
They drank. Later that night in Frensic's flat in Hampstead Piper signed two contracts. The first sold Search for a Lost Childhood to Corkadales for the advance sum of one thousand pounds. The second stated that as the author of Pause O Men for the Virgin he agreed to make a promotional tour of the United States.
