tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第34节
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series。〃
〃Jowett is the one to get hold of；〃 mused Clodd。 〃Jowett； all the
others follow like a flock of geese waddling after the old gander。 If
only we could get hold of Jowett； the rest would be easy。〃
Jowett was the proprietor of the famous Marble Soap。 Jowett spent
on advertising every year a quarter of a million； it was said。 Jowett was
the stay and prop of periodical literature。 New papers that secured the
Marble Soap advertisement lived and prospered； the new paper to which
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it was denied languished and died。 Jowett； and how to get hold of him；
Jowett； and how to get round him； formed the chief topic of discussion at
the council…board of most new papers； Good Humour amongst the
number。
〃I have heard；〃 said Miss Ramsbotham； who wrote the Letter to
Clorinda that filled each week the last two pages of Good Humour； and
that told Clorinda； who lived secluded in the country； the daily history of
the highest class society； among whom Miss Ramsbotham appeared to
live and have her being； who they were； and what they wore； the wise
and otherwise things they did〃I have heard；〃 said Miss Ramsbotham
one morning； Jowett being as usual the subject under debate； 〃that the
old man is susceptible to female influence。〃
〃What I have always thought；〃 said Clodd。 〃A lady advertising…
agent might do well。 At all events； they couldn't kick her out。〃
〃They might in the end；〃 thought Peter。 〃Female door…porters would
become a profession for muscular ladies if ever the idea took root。〃
〃The first one would get a good start； anyhow；〃 thought Clodd。
The sub…editor had pricked up her ears。 Once upon a time； long
ago； the sub…editor had succeeded； when all other London journalists had
failed； in securing an interview with a certain great statesman。 The
sub…editor had never forgotten thisnor allowed anyone else to forget it；
〃I believe I could get it for you；〃 said the sub…editor。
The editor and the business…manager both spoke together。 They
spoke with decision and with emphasis。
〃Why not？〃 said the sub…editor。 〃When nobody else could get at
him； it was I who interviewed Prince〃
〃We've heard all about that；〃 interrupted the business…manager。 〃If I
had been your father at the time； you would never have done it。〃
〃How could I have stopped her？〃 retorted Peter Hope。 〃She never
said a word to me。〃
〃You could have kept an eye on her。〃
〃Kept an eye on her！ When you've got a girl of your own； you'll
know more about them。〃
〃When I have；〃 asserted Clodd； 〃I'll manage her。〃
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〃We know all about bachelor's children；〃 sneered Peter Hope； the
editor。
〃You leave it to me。 I'll have it for you before the end of the week；〃
crowed the sub…editor。
〃If you do get it；〃 returned Clodd； 〃I shall throw it out； that's all。〃
〃You said yourself a lady advertising…agent would be a good idea；〃
the sub…editor reminded him。
〃So she might be；〃 returned Clodd； 〃but she isn't going to be you。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because she isn't； that's why。〃
〃But if〃
〃See you at the printer's at twelve；〃 said Clodd to Peter； and went out
suddenly。
〃Well； I think he's an idiot；〃 said the sub…editor。
〃I do not often；〃 said the editor； 〃but on this point I agree with him。
Cadging for advertisements isn't a woman's work。〃
〃But what is the difference between〃
〃All the difference in the world；〃 thought the editor。
〃You don't know what I was going to say；〃 returned his sub。
〃I know the drift of it；〃 asserted the editor。
〃But you let me〃
〃I know I doa good deal too much。 I'm going to turn over a new
leaf。〃
〃All I propose to do 〃
〃Whatever it is； you're not going to do it；〃 declared the chief。 〃Shall
be back at half…past twelve； if anybody comes。〃
〃It seems to me〃 But Peter was gone。
〃Just like them all；〃 wailed the sub…editor。 〃They can't argue； when
you explain things to them； they go out。 It does make me so mad！〃
Miss Ramsbotham laughed。 〃You are a downtrodden little girl；
Tommy。〃
〃As if I couldn't take care of myself！〃 Tommy's chin was high up
in the air。
〃Cheer up；〃 suggested Miss Ramsbotham。 〃Nobody ever tells me not
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to do anything。 I would change with you if I could。〃
〃I'd have walked into that office and have had that advertisement out
of old Jowett in five minutes； I know I would；〃 bragged Tommy。 〃I can
always get on with old men。〃
〃Only with the old ones？〃 queried Miss Ramsbotham。
The door opened。 〃Anybody in？〃 asked the face of Johnny Bulstrode；
appearing in the jar。
〃Can't you see they are？〃 snapped Tommy。
〃Figure of speech；〃 explained Johnny Bulstrode； commonly called
〃the Babe；〃 entering and closing the door behind him。
〃What do you want？〃 demanded the sub…editor。
〃Nothing in particular；〃 replied the Babe。
〃Wrong time of the day to come for it； half…past eleven in the
morning；〃 explained the sub…editor。
〃What's the matter with you？〃 asked the Babe。
〃Feeling very cross；〃 confessed the sub…editor。
The childlike face of the Babe expressed sympathetic inquiry。
〃We are very indignant；〃 explained Miss Ramsbotham； 〃because we
are not allowed to rush off to Cannon Street and coax an advertisement
out of old Jowett； the soap man。 We feel sure that if we only put on our
best hat； he couldn't possibly refuse us。〃
〃No coaxing required；〃 thought the sub…editor。 〃Once get in to see
the old fellow and put the actual figures before him； he would clamour
to come in。〃
〃Won't he see Clodd？〃 asked the Babe。
〃Won't see anybody on behalf of anything new just at present；
apparently；〃 answered Miss Ramsbotham。 〃It was my fault。 I was
foolish enough to repeat that I had heard he was susceptible to female
charm。 They say it was Mrs。 Sarkitt that got the advertisement for The
Lamp out of him。 But； of course； it may not be true。〃
〃Wish I was a soap man and had got advertisements to give away；〃
sighed the Babe。
〃Wish you were；〃 agreed the sub…editor。
〃You should have them all； Tommy。〃
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〃My name；〃 corrected him the sub…editor； 〃is Miss Hope。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the Babe。 〃I don't know how it is； but one
gets into the way of calling you Tommy。〃
〃I will thank you；〃 said the sub…editor； 〃to get out of it。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said the Babe。
〃Don't let it occur again；〃 said the sub…editor。
The Babe stood first on one leg and then on the other； but nothing
seemed to come of it。 〃Well；〃 said the Babe； 〃I just looked in； that's all。
Nothing I can do for you？〃
〃Nothing；〃 thanked him the sub…editor。
〃Good morning；〃 said the Babe。
〃Good morning；〃 said the sub…editor。
The childlike face of the Babe wore a chastened expression as it
slowly descended the stairs。 Most of the members of the Autolycus
Club looked in about once a day to see if they could do anything for
Tommy。 Some of them had luck。 Only the day before； Porsona
heavy； most uninteresting manhad been sent down
