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22.
The older I get the more convinced I am that no two people can ever understand one another on any subject — understand one another thoroughly, that is. I never suggested that the publisher of "Dubliners" could be prosecuted for indecency; what I did say was said in answer to your suggestion that a printer was a mere journeyman who had nothing whatever to do with the contents of a book: to that I pointed out that in the event of a book being indecent he was equally liable with the publisher, and if it were sufficiently indecent, would be prosecuted at the same time as the publisher.
As for the printer, you seem equally to be unable to see my point. I quoted him to begin with not in deference to his opinion but as an evidence of opinion. He was the one person outside this office into whose hands the manuscript had passed, and immediately he protested. I ["fore" added in ink here]saw from his protest a series of such protests.
If as I hope we can send the manuscript to the printer on getting it back from you, we must not write each other any more letters! Believe me, dear Mr. Joyce, Sincerely yours,
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