It is a business
which the French carry to perfection. The plot of a novel should, I
imagine, be constructed in accordance with human nature?"
"Certainly," said Mr. Bouncer.
"You have murders in novels?"
"Sometimes," said Mr. Bouncer, who had himself done many murders in
his time.
"Did you ever know a French novelist have a premeditated murder
committed by a man who could not possibly have conceived the murder
ten minutes before he committed it;--with whom the cause of the
murder anteceded the murder no more than ten minutes?" Mr. Bouncer
stood thinking for a while. "We will give you your time, because an
answer to the question from you will be important testimony."
"I don't think I do," said Mr. Bouncer, who in his confusion had been
quite unable to think of the plot of a single novel.
"And if there were such a French plot that would not be the plot that
you would borrow?"
"Certainly not," said Mr. Bouncer.
"Did you ever read poetry, Mr. Bouncer?"
"Oh yes;--I read a great deal of poetry.
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