To say his room was plainly furnished doesn’t express it. The apartment was like a prison cell. I’ve never been in gaol, of course. But I read “Convict 99” when it ran in a serial. The fire was out, the chairs were hard, and the whole thing was uncomfortable. Never struck such a shoddy place in my natural, ever since I called on a man I know slightly who was in “The Hand of Blood” travelling company No. 3 B. “Delighted to see you, I’m sure,” said Mr. Cloyster. “In fact, I was just going to sit down and write to you.” “Really,” said the Reverend. “Well, we’ve come of our own accord, and we’ve come to talk business.” Then turning to Blake and me he added, “May I state our case?” “Most certainly, sir,” I answered. And Blake gave a nod. “Briefly, then,” said the Reverend, “our mission is this: that we three want our contracts revised.” “What contracts?” said Mr. Cloyster. “Our contracts connected with your manuscripts.” “Since when have the several matters of business which I arranged privately with each of you become public?” “Tonight. It was quite unavoidable. We met by chance. We are not to blame. Tom Blake was——” “Yes, he looks as if he had been.” “Our amended offer is half profits.” “More coin,” murmured Blake huskily. “Wot ’o!” “I regret that you’ve had your journey for nothing.” “You refuse?” “Absolutely.” “My dear Cloyster, I had expected you to take this attitude; but surely it’s childish of you. You are bound to accede. Why not do so at once?” “Bound to accede? I don’t follow you.” “Yes, bound. The present system which you are working is one you cannot afford to destroy. That is clear, because, had it not been so, you would never have initiated it. I do not know for what reason you were forced to employ this system, but I do know that powerful circumstances must have compelled you to do so. You are entirely in our hands.” “I said just now I was delighted to see you, and that I had intended to ask you to come to me. One by one, of course; for I had no idea that the promise of secrecy which you gave me had been broken.” The Reverend shrugged his shoulders. “Do you know why I wanted to see you?” “No.” “To tell you that I had decided to abandon my system. To notify you that you would, in future, receive no more of my work.” There was a dead silence. “I think I’ll go home to bed,” said the Reverend. Blake and myself followed him out. Mr. Cloyster thanked us all warmly for the excellent way in which we had helped him. He said that he was now engaged to be married, and had to save every penny. “Otherwise, I should have tried to meet you in this affair of the half-profits.” He added that we had omitted to congratulate him on his engagement. His words came faintly to our ears as we tramped down Walpole Street; nor did we, as far as I can remember, give back any direct reply.