Then there was another long wait and no explanation.

At last toward the end of July (1869, I think), I lost patience and telegraphed Bliss that if the book was not on sale in twenty-four hours I should bring suit for damages.
That ended the trouble.

Half a dozen copies were bound and placed on sale within the required time.

Then the canvassing began, and went briskly forward.

In nine months the book took the publishing house out of debt, advanced its stock from twenty-five to two hundred, and left seventy thousand dollars profit to the good.