"My dear little Sis,
"What you say about writing for English papers, etc., is interesting, but innocent. Men do not get opportunities to dispose of any MS. to advantage without one of two conditions. Either they must have struck a popular vein—become popular as writers; or they must have social influence. I am not likely to become popular, and I have no social influence. No good post would be given me,—as I am not a man of conventions, and I am highly offensive to the Orthodoxies who have always tried to starve me to death—without success, happily, as yet. I am looking, however, for an English publisher, and hope some day to get a hearing in some London print. But for the time being, it is not what I wish that I can get, but what I can. Perhaps your eyes will open wide with surprise to hear that I shall get nothing, or almost nothing for my books. The contracts deprive me of all but a nominal percentage on the 2nd thousand.
"Well, this is only a line to thank you for your sweet little letter. I have Marjory's too, and shall write her soon. Love,
"Lafcadio.
"Excuse eyes.
"P.S.—I reopened this letter to add a few lines on second thought.
"You wrote in your last about Sir F. Ball. His expression of pleasure about my books may have been merely politeness to a pretty lady,—my sweet little sister. But it may have been genuine—probably was partly so. He could very easily say a good word for me to the Editors of the great Reviews,—the Fortnightly, Nineteenth Century, etc.—though I am not sure whether his influence would weigh with them very greatly.
"At all events what I need is 'a friend at Court,'—and need badly. Perhaps, perhaps only, my little sis could help me in that direction. I think I might ask you,—when possible, to try. The help an earnest man wants isn't money: it is opportunity.
"We have a cozy little home in Kobe, and Kobe is pretty, but I fear I shall have to leave it by the time this reaches you. Therefore perhaps it will be better to address me: 'c/o James E. Beale, Japan Daily Mail, Yokohama, Japan.' I shall soon send Kajiwo's last photo with some more fairy tales written by myself for your 'bairns.'