He explained the house's difficulty and distress, as Bliss had already explained it.

Then he frankly threw himself and the house upon my mercy and begged me to take away "The Innocents Abroad" and release the concern from the contract.

I said I wouldn't--and so ended the interview and the buggy excursion.

Then I warned Bliss that he must get to work or I should make trouble.

He acted upon the warning, and set up the book and I read the proofs.