Dickens was (in effect) paid up front to write prose. Vs. - > By the time of acquisition... - which is more like "I was paid $$$$$ per digit to fill in the t

Dickens was (in effect) paid up front to write prose. Vs. - > By the time of acquisition... - which is more like "I was paid $$$$$ per digit to fill in the turned-out-to-be-winning numbers on my Lotto ticket betting slip".