We all groaned and I didn't worry about Dugan's ideas any more after
that.
Joey said, "Oh God, not that! The market's sick of time stories. You
couldn't sell one with Shakespeare's name on it."
Dugan actually looked startled.
"What's the matter?" Belcher asked, showing off his erudition. "You
got a manuscript with Shakespeare's name on it? Discover a Shakespeare
autograph on a pulp story?" He laughed uproariously as though he'd
cracked a joke at my expense.
Dugan said, "N-no--only that's the story. I mean--" He faltered and
then said, "I wish you'd let me just tell you this story."