By reading each instalment in the monthly magazines.

The system answered splendidly while magazines were few,

But journal follows journal now, review succeeds review;

And when the monthly parcel I have carefully perused,

Alas, I find the characters are woefully confused!

They follow me about by day, at night they haunt me still,

A hero out from Longman's weds a lady from Cornhill;

A villain from Belgravia, who a burglary has planned,

Is suddenly arrested by detectives from the Strand.

I hear a stalwart warrior from one of Weyman's plots