Volume I Part 37 (2/2)

You need not to be told, after this, that I accept it with more than readiness. If you will allow me I will go over it with great care, and very slightly touch it here and there. I think it will require to be divided into three portions. You shall have the proofs and I will publish it immediately. I think so VERY highly of it that I will have special attention called to it in a separate advertis.e.m.e.nt. I congratulate you most sincerely and heartily on having done a very special thing. It will always stand apart in my mind from any other story I ever read. I write with its impression newly and strongly upon me, and feel absolutely sure that I am not mistaken.

Believe me, faithfully yours always.

[Sidenote: Hon. Robert Lytton.]

26, WELLINGTON STREET, LONDON, _Thursday, 2nd September, 1869._

MY DEAR ROBERT LYTTON,

”John Acland” is most willingly accepted, and shall come in to the next monthly part. I shall make bold to condense him here and there (according to my best idea of story-telling), and particularly where he makes the speech:--And with the usual fault of being too long, here and there, I think you let the story out too much--prematurely--and this I hope to prevent artfully. I think your t.i.tle open to the same objection, and therefore propose to subst.i.tute:

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOHN ACLAND.

This will leave the reader in doubt whether he really _was_ murdered, until the end.

I am sorry you do not pursue the other prose series. You can do a great deal more than you think for, with whatever you touch; and you know where to find a firmly attached and admiring friend always ready to take the field with you, and always proud to see your plume among the feathers in the Staff.

Your account of my dear Boffin[105] is highly charming:--I had been troubled with a misgiving that he was good. May his shadow never be more correct!

I wish I could have you at the murder from ”Oliver Twist.”

I am always, my dear Robert Lytton, Affectionately your friend.

Pray give my kindest regards to Fascination Fledgeby, who (I have no doubt) has by this time half-a-dozen new names, feebly expressive of his great merits.

[Sidenote: The same.]

OFFICE OF ”ALL THE YEAR ROUND,”

26, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, LONDON, _Friday, 1st October, 1869._

MY DEAR ROBERT LYTTON,

I am a.s.sured by a correspondent that ”John Acland” has been done before.

Said correspondent has evidently read the story--and is almost confident in ”Chambers's Journal.” This is very unfortunate, but of course cannot be helped. There is always a possibility of such a malignant conjunction of stars when the story is a true one.

In the case of a good story--as this is--liable for years to be told at table--as this was--there is nothing wonderful in such a mischance. Let us shuffle the cards, as Sancho says, and begin again.

You will of course understand that I do not tell you this by way of complaint. Indeed, I should not have mentioned it at all, but as an explanation to you of my reason for winding the story up (which I have done to-day) as expeditiously as possible. You might otherwise have thought me, on reading it as published, a little hard on Mr. Doilly. I have not had time to direct search to be made in ”Chambers's;” but as to the main part of the story having been printed somewhere, I have not the faintest doubt. And I believe my correspondent to be also right as to the where. You could not help it any more than I could, and therefore will not be troubled by it any more than I am.

The more I get of your writing, the better I shall be pleased.

Do believe me to be, as I am, Your genuine admirer And affectionate friend.

[Sidenote: Mr. Rusden.]

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