That's a ridiculous fib, not a chance in hell you thought that one was good enough to fool him. You shake your head a bit and do what you do best: IMPROVISE.
The plan, you say, is to get dirt on the LIVELY STUMBLERS for your client's next book. Even in other probabilities, those Prospitians are a buncha good-for-nuthins, you tell him. Given his other writing, this must be a very unique angle for him. The propaganda machine is a very financially sound one. You don't say that part out loud.