“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 superstition 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,—