You Never Know

One account where the requested amount was $14,500 settled for $12,000 on those terms.

But what bearing does that tale of woe have on what you and I are doing here?"

"Well, well. So you're a lawyer too, now? Robert Canti was right: you're an amazing man!"

"Mr Canti? The president of Braduran? How did you, and why did you, get to speak with him?"

"Just a bit of background, Jack. I take my responsibilities seriously, as you can see."

"Yes. But again, how does this relate? And no, I have no technical qualification as a lawyer."

"Or a boom man, an edgerman, a sawyer, or a philosophy instructor."

"My word, you have been busy."

"You bet. My friends and I have taken a personal interest and we hope to help you. Okay. To wit and to woo, let's see what to do. I warned you not to expect financial reward for this paper, but after a lot of discussion, we've come up with a proposition.

It goes like this. I should become your agent.

For two reasons: One, you are apparently not a good promoter, not a good salesman. There's no other explanation for the fact that your digitizing work and your embroidery output is acknowledged as excellent by everyone in the industry familiar with your work, on the one hand, and your financial situation, on the other.

Two, if we do manage to get a monetary return for your paper, and possibly other publication, it would serve no purpose for that money to disappear into your $115,000 hole. It would not materially reduce your debt, and it would not improve your standing with the credit card companies."