Volume Ii Part 29 (1/2)
”Thanks for your note and its enclosure.
”You are mistaken if you think I invented the n.o.bility a.s.sociation, or that it is a hoax. It is _bona fide_, every bit of it; and I have added a note which you can insert if you suspect that your own incredulity may be felt by others.
”I have added a page also to 'Garibaldi.' It is, to my mind, so essential to a right reading of the present position of Italy to place briefly the whole incident before the reader, that I think it now will display events as they have been, as they might have been, and as they are.
”To comply with your wish to return proof by post, I have, I fear, corrected laxly; but you will, I know, look to my 'shortcomings.'
”I suspect Serjeant Brownlow's reminiscences would make an amusing review. If you think so, send it to me, and I'll try.
”My wife is again very ill, a relapsed [ ] of the lung, and I am dreary--dreary.”
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”Trieste, _Dec_. 2.
”I send you for your New Year No. the best magazine story I think I ever wrote.
”I only hope you may agree with me,--at all events you will tell me what you think of it, and let me have early proof.”
_To Mr John Blackwood._
”British Consulate, Trieste, _Dec_ 6, 1867.
”I return you 'Bob Considine,' hurriedly, but I hope effectually, corrected. I sincerely hope it may appear New Year's Day: I have a superst.i.tion of a good start on that day.
”Your note contained no cheque, and I suppose you may have found it on your table since, but you can annex it to 'Bob' when you write.
”We are going to have a mournful spectacle here--the funeral reception of the poor Mexican Emperor's remains. It will be, they say, very solemn and imposing.
”I find I could not improve the wind-up, and left it unchanged. As to how mad Bob turned out afterwards is nothing to either of us, though I own I think the case hazardous.
”A happy Xmas to you and your wife. Give her all my best wishes and warm regards; as for me,--
”The time of mince-pies, mistletoe, and buns, The time that tells of all that bright and neat is, Only brings thoughts of Xmas bills and duns, Confounded chilblains and my old bronchitis.
”This short month drives me close to time, or I should have liked to add something to the Persano sketch. I find it is a subject immensely talked of by our people (sailors) at home, and that opinion is more favourable to him in England than in Italy. There is no time, however, for this now.
”I suspect Dizzy's plurality of votes scheme is utter failure. A Bill of Reform must be simple, even at the cost of some efficiency in details.
It is a weapon to be used by coa.r.s.e hands--and every day of the week besides.
”I have heard nothing more about myself since I wrote. I suppose it is all right, but I know nothing.
”Did I tell you that I met Gladstone here? I don't think I ever saw a more consummate actor,--what the French call _poseur_,--with all the outward semblance of perfect indifference to display and complete forgetfulness of self. Even Disraeli himself is less artificial.”