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40 “So the only question is, will I support you?”

“Exactly. With Bambi off your hands, you will have no other responsibility, and you could not do a bigger thing for the world than to help me to instruct and inspire it.”

“Aristophanes!” exclaimed the Professor. “You are unique! You are number twenty-three.”

“Why twenty-three?”

“Because that is neither much nor little.”

“Your daughter thinks my plays will sell, but I tell you frankly I doubt it.”

“How can you instruct and inspire if nobody listens?”

“They must listen in the end, else why am I here?”

The Professor relinquished his chase, to stare again. “You are at least sincere in your belief in yourself—twenty-three. I’d like to hear some of these great ideas of yours.”

“Very well. I am going to read a play to your daughter this evening. If you care to come, you may listen. Then you will see that it would pay you to stake me for a couple of years.”

“I’ll come and listen.”

“If you decide to undertake me, I insist that you