My thanks, cher confrère. ‘A drop of my special grape to you,’ as Omar might say, if he were now among us with a Hibernian accent! Herewith I post to you another babe, born into this ungrateful world so recently as yesterday.... Such as it is, I hope you may like it. “Ecce Puella” itself was written at white heat—and ran in ripples off the brain: and so is probably readable.
“Fragments from The Lost Journals of Piero di Cosimo” when they appeared (some few years ago) won the high praise of Pater—but perhaps their best distinction is that they took in the cocksure and levelled the Omniscient. One critical wight complained that I was not literal (probably from the lack of knowledge of medieval Italian), which he clinched by the remark that he had compared my version with the original! I see that Silas Hocking has just published a book called “All men are liars.” I would fain send a copy to that critic, even now. By the way, my cousin Miss Fiona Macleod wrote to me the other day for your address. I understand she wanted to send you a copy of her new book. If you get it, you should, as a folk-lorist, read the titular story, The Sin-Eater.
My wife joins with me in cordial regards, and I am
Sincerely yours,
William Sharp.
The President replied:
19 Carleton Road,
Tufnell Park
5th Nov.
My dear Sharp,