Lafcadio.
TO MITCHELL McDONALD
Tōkyō, October, 1898.
Dear McDonald,—I am very glad that I wrote you that selfish letter,—in spite of the protests of my little wife, who says that I am simply a savage. I am glad, because I felt quite sure that you would understand, and that the result would be a very sweet note, which I shall always prize. Of course, I mean three months at the outside: I have vowed to finish by the year’s end, and I think I can. As for letters, you can’t write too many. It takes me five minutes at most to write a letter (that is, to you); but if it took an hour I could always manage that.
“Like the little crab,”—yes, indeed. Thursday, three enemies dug at my hole, but I zigzagged away from them. I go in and out by the back way, now, so as to avoid the risk of being seen from afar off.
Ever most affectionately (with renewed thanks for that delicious letter),
Lafcadio.