1, who had gone on before.

When Eustace and his wife and John Short got to the top of the hall, where some chairs had been set, the whole multitude bowed, whereon he begged them to be seated--a permission of which the tame authors, who sat all day in their little wooden hutches, and sometimes a good part of the night also, did not seem to care to avail themselves of.

But the tame artists, who had, for the most part, to work standing, sat down readily.
"Gentlemen," said Eustace, "first let me introduce you to my wife, Mrs.
Meeson, who, in another capacity, has already been--not greatly to her own profit--connected with this establishment, having written the best work of fiction that has ever gone through our printing-presses"-- (Here some of the wilder spirits cheered, and Augusta blushed and bowed)--"and who will, I hope and trust, write many even better books, which we shall have the honour of giving to the world." (Applause.) "Also, gentlemen, let me introduce you to Mr.John Short, my solicitor, who, together with his twin brother, Mr.James Short, brought the great lawsuit in which I was engaged to a successful issue.
"And now I have to tell you why I have summoned you all to meet me here.

First of all, to say that I am now the sole owner of this business, having bought out Messrs.

Addison and Roscoe"-- ("And a good job too," said a voice)--"and that I hope we shall work well together; and secondly, to inform you that I am going to totally revolutionise the course of business as hitherto practised in this establishment"-- (Sensation)--"having, with the assistance of Mr.Short, drawn up a scheme for that purpose.