It might happen any time.
She joined Merton, a long envelope in her hand and a brave little smile on her pinched face.
"Which one is it ?" he asked, referring to the envelope.
"It's Passion's Perils." she answered with a jaunty affectation of amusement.

"The Touchstone-Blatz people sent it back.

The slip says its being returned does not imply any lack of merit." "I should think it wouldn't!" said Merton warmly.
He knew Passion's Perils.

A company might have no immediate need for it, but its rejection could not possibly imply a lack of merit, because the merit was there.

No one could dispute that.
They walked on to the Bijou Palace.