Now, Thuillier had spent about fifteen hundred francs himself on costs of publication, such, for instance, as copies sent in great profusion to the newspapers; but at the close of the third day SEVEN copies only had been sold, and three of those on credit. It might be believed that in revealing to the horror-stricken Thuillier this paltry result the young publisher would have lost at least something of his assurance.
On the contrary, this Guzman of the book-trade hastened to say:--"I am delighted at what has happened. If we had sold a hundred copies it would trouble me far more than the fifteen hundred now on our hands; that's what I call hanging fire; whereas this insignificant sale only proves that the edition will go off like a rocket.""But when?" asked Thuillier, who thought this view paradoxical.
"Parbleu!" said Barbet, "when we get notices in the newspapers.
Newspaper notices are only useful to arouse attention. 'Dear me!' says the public, 'there's a publication that must be interesting.' The title is good,--'Taxation and the Sliding-Scale,'--but I find that the more piquant a title is, the more buyers distrust it, they have been taken in so often; they wait for the notices. On the other hand, for books that are destined to have only a limited sale, a hundred ready-made purchasers will come in at once, but after that, good-bye to them; we don't place another copy.""Then you don't think," said Thuillier, "that the sale is hopeless?""On the contrary, I think it is on the best track. When the 'Debats,' the 'Constitutionnel,' the 'Siecle,' and the 'Presse' have reviewed it, especially if the 'Debats' mauls it (they are ministerial, you know), it won't be a week before the whole edition is snapped up.""You say that easily enough," replied Thuillier; "but how are we to get hold of those gentlemen of the press?""Ah! I'll take care of that," said Barbet. "I am on the best of terms with the managing editors; they say the devil is in me, and that Iremind them of Ladvocat in his best days."
"But then, my dear fellow, you ought to have seen to this earlier.""Ah! excuse me, papa Thuillier; there's only one way of seeing to the journalists; but as you grumbled about the fifteen hundred francs for the advertisements, I did not venture to propose to you another extra expense.""What expense?" asked Thuillier, anxiously.
"When you were nominated to the municipal council, where was the plan mooted?" asked the publisher.
"Parbleu! in my own house," replied Thuillier.
"Yes, of course, in your own house, but at a dinner, followed by a ball, and the ball itself crowned by a supper. Well, my dear master, there are no two ways to do this business; Boileau says:--"'All is done through the palate, and not through the mind;And it is by our dinners we govern mankind.'""Then you think I ought to give a dinner to those journalists?""Yes; but not at your own house; for these journalists, you see, if women are present, get stupid; they have to behave themselves. And, besides, it isn't dinner they want, but a breakfast--that suits them best. In the evening these gentlemen have to go to first representations, and make up their papers, not to speak of their own little private doings; whereas in the mornings they have nothing to think about. As for me, it is always breakfasts that I give.""But that costs money, breakfasts like that," said Thuillier;"journalists are gourmands."
"Bah! twenty francs a head, without wine. Say you have ten of them;three hundred francs will see you handsomely through the whole thing.
In fact, as a matter of economy, breakfasts are preferable; for a dinner you wouldn't get off under five hundred francs.""How you talk, young man!" said Thuillier.
"Oh, hang it! everybody knows it costs dear to get elected to the Chamber; and all this favors your nomination.""But how can I invite those gentlemen? Must I go and see them myself?""Certainly not; send them your pamphlet and appoint them to meet you at Philippe's or Vefour's--they'll understand perfectly.""Ten guests," said Thuillier, beginning to enter into the idea. "I did not know there were so many leading journals.""There are not," said the publisher; "but we must have the little dogs as well, for they bark loudest. This breakfast is certain to make a noise, and if you don't ask them they'll think you pick and choose, and everyone excluded will be your enemy.""Then you think it is enough merely to send the invitations?""Yes; I'll make the list, and you can write the notes and send them to me. I'll see that they are delivered; some of them I shall take in person.""If I were sure," said Thuillier, undecidedly, "that this expense would have the desired effect--""IF I WERE SURE,--that's a queer thing to say," said Barbet. "My dear master, this is money placed on mortgage; for it, I will guarantee the sale of fifteen hundred copies,--say at forty sous apiece; allowing the discounts, that makes three thousand francs. You see that your costs and extra costs are covered, and more than covered.""Well," said Thuillier, turning to go, "I'll talk to la Peyrade about it.""As you please, my dear master; but decide soon, for nothing gets mouldy so fast as a book; write hot, serve hot, and buy hot,--that's the rule for authors, publishers, and public; all is bosh outside of it, and no good to touch."When la Peyrade was consulted, he did not think in his heart that the remedy was heroic, but he had now come to feel the bitterest animosity against Thuillier, so that he was well pleased to see this new tax levied on his self-important inexperience and pompous silliness.