Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/343

329 A DOUBLE-BARRELLED GHOST. 329

" Do you mean I am to publish it under your name? "

" No, under yours."

"But, then, where does the satisfaction come in?"

"Your name is the same as mine."

"I see; but still, why not tell the truth about it? In a preface, for instance."

"Who would believe it? In my own day I could not credit that Macpherson spoke truly about the way Ossian came into his possession, nor to judge from gossip I have had with the younger ghosts did anyone attach credence to Sir Walter Scott's introductions."

"True," I said musingly. "It is a played-out dodge. But I am not certain whether an attack on Dr. Johnson would go down nowadays. We are aware that the man had porcine traits, but we have almost canonised him."

"The very reason why the book will be a success," he replied eagerly. " I understand that in these days of yours the best way of attracting attention is to fly in the face of all received opinion, and so in the realm of history to white- wash the villains and tar and feather the saints. The sliding panel of which I spoke is just behind the picture of me. Lose no time. Go at once, even as I must."

The shadowy contours of his form waved agitatedly in the wind.

"But how do you know anyone will bring it out?" I said doubtfully. "Am I to haunt the publishers' offices till — "

"No, no, I will do that," he interrupted in excitement. " Promise me you will help me."

"But I don't feel at all sure it stands a ghost of a chance," I said, growing colder in proportion as he grew more en- thusiastic.

" It is the only chance of a ghost," he pleaded. " Come, give me your word. Any of your literary friends will get