It's over and done with now, and none
of the syndicate know how hard up I was.
of the syndicate know how hard up I was.
Kipling - Poems
"
"Now, what lunacy has been your latest? "
Dick spoke of the last few weeks with unbridled speech. Then he opened
his coat; there was no waistcoat below. "I ran it fine, awfully fine,
but I've just scraped through. "
"You haven't much sense, but you've got a backbone, anyhow. Eat, and
talk afterwards. " Dick fell upon eggs and bacon and gorged till he could
gorge no more. Torpenhow handed him a filled pipe, and he smoked as men
smoke who for three weeks have been deprived of good tobacco.
"Ouf! " said he. "That's heavenly! Well? "
"Why in the world didn't you come to me? "
"Couldn't; I owe you too much already, old man. Besides I had a sort of
superstition that this temporary starvation--that's what it was, and it
hurt--would bring me luck later.
It's over and done with now, and none
of the syndicate know how hard up I was. Fire away. What's the exact
state of affairs as regards myself? "
"You had my wire? You've caught on here. People like your work
immensely. I don't know why, but they do. They say you have a fresh
touch and a new way of drawing things. And, because they're chiefly
home-bred English, they say you have insight. You're wanted by half a
dozen papers; you're wanted to illustrate books. "
Dick grunted scornfully.
"You're wanted to work up your smaller sketches and sell them to the
dealers. They seem to think the money sunk in you is a good investment.
Good Lord! who can account for the fathomless folly of the public? "
"They're a remarkably sensible people.
"Now, what lunacy has been your latest? "
Dick spoke of the last few weeks with unbridled speech. Then he opened
his coat; there was no waistcoat below. "I ran it fine, awfully fine,
but I've just scraped through. "
"You haven't much sense, but you've got a backbone, anyhow. Eat, and
talk afterwards. " Dick fell upon eggs and bacon and gorged till he could
gorge no more. Torpenhow handed him a filled pipe, and he smoked as men
smoke who for three weeks have been deprived of good tobacco.
"Ouf! " said he. "That's heavenly! Well? "
"Why in the world didn't you come to me? "
"Couldn't; I owe you too much already, old man. Besides I had a sort of
superstition that this temporary starvation--that's what it was, and it
hurt--would bring me luck later.
It's over and done with now, and none
of the syndicate know how hard up I was. Fire away. What's the exact
state of affairs as regards myself? "
"You had my wire? You've caught on here. People like your work
immensely. I don't know why, but they do. They say you have a fresh
touch and a new way of drawing things. And, because they're chiefly
home-bred English, they say you have insight. You're wanted by half a
dozen papers; you're wanted to illustrate books. "
Dick grunted scornfully.
"You're wanted to work up your smaller sketches and sell them to the
dealers. They seem to think the money sunk in you is a good investment.
Good Lord! who can account for the fathomless folly of the public? "
"They're a remarkably sensible people.
