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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 1
[The 'pesky booking agent']
The « pesky book agent » has become quite an institution in the colony during the past few years. For ways that are dark he surpasses Ah Sin himself. Here is a case that would be hard to beat. Some time ago a colonial house was running one of those showy bulky barren volumes which it requires a smart canvasser to work off. A guileless tailor— we will call him Mr Tweedie—was marked for the book-agent's prey. In vain he strove to check the torrent of his visitor's eloquence. Times were bad—the book didn't interest him—did not suppose he would ever read it—two guineas was a big price, &c. « Look here, » said the canvasser: « I'll make you an offer. If you give me your name, I'll have a suit of you. I'll be round delivering the books in a month, and I'll call for them then. » A first-class material was chosen, the measure taken, and the tradesman's name added to the list of subscribers. With the punctuality for which tailors are renowned, the suit was completed by the appointed time—but the customer came not. Month after month passed, and at length appeared an agent with the volume. « Two guineas, if you please! » The tailor turned pale, for a stranger stood before him. « You are not the man who brought the sample book, » he said. « No, » was the reply; « but I have your written order. » « Yes, » said Mr Tweedie; « but there was a condition. That fellow said he'd have an eight-guinea suit if I took the book, and it's been waiting for him these three months. » « That's his affair, you see, » was the reply. « The publisher knows nothing of that, and I'm responsible to him for the money. » There was no help for it. The victim has now for sale, very cheap, a good suit and a new copy of « Forty Years of Leaps and Bounds: being the Eventful History of One of Britain's Jewels; superbly bound and magnificently illustrated. »