"We're all of us out to make profit. Look
here!--between you and me--you're a lit'ry gent, ain't you? Write a bit,
what? Do you want to earn a fiver--comfortable?"
"I should be very glad," replied Lauriston.
"There's a friend o' mine," continued Melky, "wholesale jeweller, down
Shoreditch way, wants to get out a catalogue. He ain't no lit'ry powers,
d'you see? Now, he'd run to a fiver--cash down--if some writing feller 'ud
touch things up a bit for him, like. Lor' bless you!--it wouldn't take you
more'n a day's work! What d'ye say to it?"
"I wouldn't mind earning five pounds at that," answered Lauriston.
"Right-oh!" said Melky. "Then some day next week, I'll take you down to
see him--he's away till then. And--you'll pay me ten per cent. on the bit
o' business, won't you, mister? Business is business, ain't it?"
"All right!" agreed Lauriston. "That's a bargain, of course."
Melky nodded and turned to his steak, and Lauriston presently left him and
went away. The plump lady at the desk gave him a smile as she handed him
his change.
"Hope to see you again, sir," she said.
Lauriston went back to his room, feeling that the world had changed.
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