Скорбь сатаны / The sorrows of Satan. Уровень 4

“But strange things happen in life. And that book will be the success of the season! What will you take to publish it?”

“Publish? I?”

“Yes, you – why not? I offer you a chance to get some money. Will your �readers’ prevent your accepting it? You are not a slave, this is a free country. I know the kind of people who �read’ for you, the gaunt unlovable spinster of fifty, the dyspeptic book-worm who is a �literary failure’ and can find nothing else to do. Why should you rely on such incompetent opinion? I’ll pay you for the publication of my book.

And I guarantee you another thing. I’ll mention you as a publisher. I’ll advertise it. Everything in this world can be done for money.”

“Stop, stop,” he interrupted. “This is so sudden! You must give me time to consider!”

“Take a day for your meditations then,” I said. “But no longer. For if you don’t say yes, I’ll get another man! Be wise in time, my friend! Good-bye!”

He ran after me.

“Wait, look here! You’re so strange, so wild, so erratic! Dear dear me,” and he smiled benevolently. “Why, you don’t give me a chance to congratulate you. I really do, you know – I congratulate you sincerely!” And he shook me by the hand quite fervently. “And I will think about your book – where will a letter find you?”

“Grand Hotel,” I responded. I knew he was already mentally calculating how much he could get from me for my literary whim.

“Come there, and lunch or dine with me. Tomorrow if you like – only send me a word beforehand. Remember, it must be yes or no, in twenty-four hours!”

And with this I left him. I went on, laughing to myself inaudibly, till I saw one or two passers-by looking at me so surprisingly that I came to the conclusion that they took me for a madman. I walked briskly, and presently my excitement cooled down.

I returned to the Grand, looking and feeling much better in my new suit.

A waiter met me in the corridor and with the most obsequious deference, informed me that �His Excellency the Prince’ was waiting for me in his own apartments for lunch.

I found my new friend alone in his sumptuous drawing-room, standing near the large window and holding in his hand an oblong crystal case through which he was looking with an almost affectionate solicitude.

“Ah, Geoffrey! Here you are!” he exclaimed. “I waited for you.