"And so you have sent your letter. Much good may it do you. My private
opinion is, that you wont get much of a reply. All the money you will
make out of the frolic is, that possibly they will allow you ten per
cent. or more on future sales. As to the past, the woodchuck left that
hole, when you so verdantly assured Mr. H. that you had no idea of
making any claims for arrears; and any amount of barking (pardon me,
but the unity of the figure must be maintained at any cost) will not
scare out another animal.
"Man is not a rhinoceri-hos that his skin should not be pervious, and
your arrows will rankle in the 'firm' skin of B. & H.; but business is
business, and, though a prophet spake unto them from above, a larger,
louder profit speaks to them from below. By the way, don't consider
my fees contingent on the arrearages. Arrearages don't maintain
families.... I want to see you. Perhaps you will come over and get that
money of B. & H. for arrearages. But don't wait for that."