DOI article:
James, Henry: The death of the lion
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20196#0014
8 The Death of the Lion
have ideas, and had doubtless been at the bottom of my proposing
to Mr. Pinhorn that I should lay my lean hands on Neil Paraday.
I remember that he looked at me first as if he had never heard of
this celebrity, who indeed at that moment was by no means in the
middle of the heavens ; and even when I had knowingly explained
he expressed but little confidence in the demand for any ]such
matter. When I had reminded him that the great principle on
which we were supposed to work was just to create the demand
we required, he considered a moment and then rejoined : "I see ;
you want to write him up."
« Call it that if you like."
"And what's your inducement ? "
"Bless my soul—my admiration ! "
Mr. Pinhorn pursed up his mouth. " Is there much to be done
with him ? "
" Whatever there is, we should have it all to ourselves, for he
hasn't been touched."
This argument was effective, and Mr. Pinhorn responded :
" Very well, touch him." Then he added : " But where can you
do it ? "
" Under the fifth rib ! " I laughed.
Mr. Pinhorn stared. " Where's that ? "
" You want me to go down and see him ? " I inquired, when I
had enjoyed his visible search for this obscure suburb.
" I don't1 want' anything—the proposal's your own. But you
must remember that that's the way we do things now" said Mr.
Pinhorn, with another dig at Mr. Deedy.
Unregenerate as I was, I could read the queer implications o
this speech. The present owner's superior virtue as well as his
deeper craft spoke in his reference to the late editor as one of
that baser sort who deal in false representations. Mr. Deedy
would
have ideas, and had doubtless been at the bottom of my proposing
to Mr. Pinhorn that I should lay my lean hands on Neil Paraday.
I remember that he looked at me first as if he had never heard of
this celebrity, who indeed at that moment was by no means in the
middle of the heavens ; and even when I had knowingly explained
he expressed but little confidence in the demand for any ]such
matter. When I had reminded him that the great principle on
which we were supposed to work was just to create the demand
we required, he considered a moment and then rejoined : "I see ;
you want to write him up."
« Call it that if you like."
"And what's your inducement ? "
"Bless my soul—my admiration ! "
Mr. Pinhorn pursed up his mouth. " Is there much to be done
with him ? "
" Whatever there is, we should have it all to ourselves, for he
hasn't been touched."
This argument was effective, and Mr. Pinhorn responded :
" Very well, touch him." Then he added : " But where can you
do it ? "
" Under the fifth rib ! " I laughed.
Mr. Pinhorn stared. " Where's that ? "
" You want me to go down and see him ? " I inquired, when I
had enjoyed his visible search for this obscure suburb.
" I don't1 want' anything—the proposal's your own. But you
must remember that that's the way we do things now" said Mr.
Pinhorn, with another dig at Mr. Deedy.
Unregenerate as I was, I could read the queer implications o
this speech. The present owner's superior virtue as well as his
deeper craft spoke in his reference to the late editor as one of
that baser sort who deal in false representations. Mr. Deedy
would