And here an interruption occurred.  It came from No. 1, who could no longer retain his disgust.

“I’ll resign,” he said; “I’ll resign!  Meeson’s content with ten per cent, and out-of-pocket expenses, when an author—­a mere author—­gets sixty!  It’s shameful—­shameful!”

“If you choose to resign, you can,” said Eustace, sharply; “but I advise you to take time to think it over.  Gentlemen,” went on Eustace, “I daresay that this seems a great change to you, but I may as well say at once that I am no wild philanthropist.  I expect to make it pay, and pay well.  To begin with, I shall never undertake any work that I do not think will pay—­that is, without an adequate guarantee, or in the capacity of a simple agent; and my own ten per cent will be the first charge on the profits; then the author’s ten.  Of course, if I speculate in a book, and buy it out and out, subject to the risks, the case will be different.  But with a net ten per cent certain, I am, like people in any other line of business, quite prepared to be satisfied; and, upon those terms, I expect to become the publisher of all the best writers in England, and I also expect that any good writer will in future be able to make a handsome income out of his work.  Further, it strikes me that you will most of you find yourselves better off at the end of the year than you do at present” (Cheers).  “One or two more matters I must touch on.  First and foremost the Hutches, which I consider a scandal to a great institution like this, will be abolished”—­(Shouts of joy from the tame authors)—­“and a handsome row of brick chambers erected in their place, and, further, their occupants will in future receive a very permanent addition to their salaries “—­(renewed and delirious cheering).  “Lastly, I will do away with this system—­this horrid system—­of calling men by numbers, as though they were convicts instead of free Englishmen.  Henceforth everybody in this establishment will be known by his own name.” (Loud cheers.)

“And now one more thing:  I hope to see you all at dinner at Pompadour Hall this day next week, when we will christen our new scheme and the new firm, which, however, in the future as in the past, will be known as Meeson & Co., for, as we are all to share in the profits of our undertaking, I consider that we shall still be a company, and I hope a prosperous and an honest company in the truest sense of the word.”  And then amidst a burst of prolonged and rapturous cheering, Eustace and his wife bowed, and were escorted out to the carriage that was waiting to drive them to Pompadour Hall.

In half-an-hour’s time they were re-entering the palatial gates from which, less than a year before, Eustace had been driven forth to seek his fortune.  There, on either side, were drawn up the long lines of menials, gorgeous with plush and powder (for Mr. Meeson’s servants had never been discharged), and there was the fat butler, Johnson, at their head, the same who had given his farewell message to his uncle.