ember I was confident that I had at last sold them. Except by a
flagrant breach of faith, the editor in whose desk they reposed could
hardly decline them. As it subsequently happened, I have now nothing but
gratitude for him that he did, after all, decline them; for I had a
duplicate copy "on offer" in another quarter.

He declined them, I say; and I was free to possess my soul again among my
writs, debts and pawnshops.

But four days later I received the alternative offer. It was from the
_Falchion_. The _Falchion_, as you may remember, has since run no less
than five complete series of _Martin Renards_. It bought "both sides,"
that is to say, both British and American serial rights. Of the twelve
_Martin Renards_ I had written, my wise agent had offered the _Falchion_
six only. On his advice I accepted the offer.

Instantaneously with the publication of those six stories came my
success. In two continents I was "home"--home in the hearts of the
public. I had my small cheque--it was not much more than a hundred
pounds--but "Wait," said my agent; "let's see what we can do with the
other six...."

Precisely what he did with them only he and I know; but I don't mind
saying that L3000 did not buy my first serial rights. Then came second
and third rights, and after them the book rights, British, American, and
Colonial. Then came the translation rights. In French, my creation is, of
course, as in English, _Martin Renard_; in German he is Martin Fuchs; and
by a similar process you can put him--my translators have put him--into
Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, and three-fourths of the tongues of
Europe. And this was the first series only. It was only with the second
series that the full splendour of my success appeared. My very imitators
grew rich; my agent's income from his comparatively small percentage on
my royalties was handsome; and he chuckled and bade me wait for the
dramatic rights and the day when the touring companies should get to
business....

I had "got there."

And I remember, sadly enough now, my first resolution when the day came
when I was able to survey the situation with anything approaching calm.
It was, "Enough." For the rest of my days I need not know poverty again.
Thenceforward I need not, unless I chose, do any but worthy work. _Martin
Renard_ had served his purpose handsomely, and I intended to have nothing
more to do with him.

Then came that dazzling offer for the second series....