“I do have a proposition for you, Mr. Fitzgerald.”

“The bookshop, you mean?”

“That, and more. You seem familiar with the works of Marcel Proust. Have you read In Search of Lost Time? It is one of the greatest novels of all time.

My wife and I own the bookshop where you found the book. We also run the publishing house, and you can ask me anything you wish. We will do all we can to publish your novel.”

The bookshop, Dutour suggested, was situated just outside Paris, near the border with the Burgundy region.

“How big is this publishing house?” Mr. Fitzgerald asked.

“We are quite small. Only the first book we published was a bestseller. Of course, we make small changes to the book before publishing it.”

Mr. Fitzgerald began to recognize a pattern. Most of the characters and events in his novel had already been imagined and placed in Paris. “Will you want to make changes to my novel as well?”

“The publishing company does change the book, but with our author’s permission. If I offer you a guaranteed bestseller, will you accept it?

What are you willing to give me for your manuscript?”

Mr. Fitzgerald pulled out a pen and paper and wrote something down. He folded the paper and put it in his pocket. He didn’t want to discuss the details. It was clear that Monsieur Dutour was trying to make a quick sale, and there was a bookshop just inside Paris, just outside the city limits, with a bookshop within its limits, in an area of Paris where he would never have gone if he had known about it.

After a pause, Mr. Dutour said, “Mr. Fitzgerald, if you will read my proposal, I will give you your money.”

For a moment, Mr. Fitzgerald thought that Monsieur Dutour was trying to pull a fast one. He considered protesting. He decided against it. He gave the man his word and hoped he was telling the truth.

“The bookshop is located near the Avenue Montaigne. It is easy to find, and the bookshop is only open Monday through Saturday. There is only one other bookshop within the bookshop’s boundaries. The bookstore belongs to the Bouvier family. I think you will like it.”

Monsieur Dutour grinned, and Mr. Fitzgerald found himself smiling back.

“I would like you to write a list of the books you believe are a bestseller. It will be impossible for you to write all the books I would like to read. I am prepared to buy a good number of the bestsellers, and then I will buy all the books I believe are the worst sellers. I will also buy all the books you suggest that I would like to read.”

Mr. Fitzgerald nodded.

Monsieur Dutour quickly folded a piece of paper and stuffed it into his pocket.

“My bookshop is full of books, of course. So much so, in fact, that we only open for a few hours each day. Would you like to visit the bookshop?”

Mr. Fitzgerald’s heart quickened.