Todd decided that he would like a drink and told Nora so. It seemed a shame not to, as the restaurant was as close to Todd’s fantasies of sophistication as possible, without actually building a time machine and returning to the 1930s. Waiters brought actual Martinis and Manhattans (Manhattans in Manhattan, thought Todd, and immediately felt like a farmer), the menus were huge and oysters seemed to get into everything.

“I’ll be honest, Todd,” said Nora. “We don’t do this for everybody.”

“Why are you doing it for me?” said Todd, immediately wondering why he didn’t just stick a piece of straw in his mouth and be done with it. Perhaps he should have worn his dungarees as well.

“Because,” said Nora, an actual twinkle in her eye, “you are about to become our number one author, Mr. Milstead.”

The food arrived. There was meat and fish and oysters. Todd put his hand over his wine glass the second time the wine waiter passed by, then changed his mind. He had a feeling that this would be the only time anything like today would ever happen in his life, and he intended to savor it.

“Has any other publisher expressed interest in All My Colors?” asked Nora, and Todd fancied he could see a new steel in her eyes, like an adding machine under the skin.

Todd thought of the returned manuscripts. “No,” he admitted.

“Readers,” said Nora. “Half of them just skim the synopsis, and the rest can’t even do that. This one—” and she indicated Carrie as a dowager lady might acknowledge her timid companion “—can read.”

“We receive hundreds of manuscripts every week,” Carrie said. “All My Colors just stood out immediately.”

She waited to see if Nora was going to take over, then continued, “The first page—the scene in the hardware store—it’s such a great opening. And then when she—”

“I don’t think Mr. Milstead needs to have his entire novel told back to him,” said Nora, and Carrie returned to silence. “One thing Carrie did say that we all agreed on is how well you write women.”

“Thanks,” Todd said, who had no memory of writing anybody.

“It’s very unusual to meet a man who can convincingly portray women as well as men,” said Carrie quickly, before gazing down into her salmon again.

“And we feel that’s a major part of your appeal,” said Nora. “All My Colors is one of those rare novels that both sexes can enjoy.”