“How many women did you interview, Mr. Jones?”
“Thirty-three.”
“All affirming your thesis?”
“All. Absolutely unanimous.” They had been, too.
“Well,” he said grudgingly, “it’s a small sample on which to base such a generality. However, the ladies were unanimous. So please go on. You can suggest a solution to this fashion impasse?”
I had him. It seemed to me he sat forward in his chair a little. I said, “Before I provide the solution, sir, it is customary to settle upon an appropriate consultant’s fee, is it not?”
“I don’t know, never having had a consultant before,” said Mr. Ashimoko. “But let us settle on a fee, by all means. What did you have in mind?”
“Considering the total value of the market I shall enable you to revive, my consultant’s fee is a modest one, you will agree. As th
