r me at once, and we'll copyright 'em in a
pamphlet. I will tell you the names of the _bona fide_ purchasers in
England.

The numbers will run from twenty to thirty pages of my manuscript. You
can give me that much, can you not? It is a howling good tale--at least
these first four numbers are; the end is a trifle more fantastic, but
'tis all picturesque.

Don't trouble about any more French books; I am on another scent, you
see, just now. Only the _French in Hindustan_ I await with impatience,
as that is for _Ballantrae_. The scene of that romance is Scotland---the
States--Scotland--India---Scotland--and the States again; so it jumps
like a flea. I have enough about the States now, and very much obliged I
am; yet if Drake's _Tragedies of the Wilderness_ is (as I gather) a
collection of originals, I should like to purchase it. If it is a
picturesque vulgarisation, I do not wish to look it in the face.
Purchase, I say; for I think it would be well to have some such
collection by me with a view to fresh works.--Yours very sincerely,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

_P.S._--If you think of having the _Master_ illustrated, I suggest that
Hole would be very well up to the Scottish, which is the larger, part.
If you have it done here, tell your artist to look at the hall of
Craigievar in Billing's _Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities_, and
he will get a broad hint for the hall at Durrisdeer: it is, I think, the
chimney of Craigievar and the roof of Pinkie, and perhaps a little more
of Pinkie altogether; but I should have to see the book myself to be
sure. Hole would be invaluable for this. I dare say if you had it
illustrated, you could let me have one or two for the English edition.

R. L. S.

TO WILLIAM ARCHER

The following refers to Mr. Bernard Shaw's novel, _Cashel Byron's
Profession_, which had been sent Stevenson to read by their common
friend Mr. Archer.

[_Saranac Lake, Winter 1887-88._]

MY DEAR ARCHER,--What am I to say? I have read your friend's book with
singular relish. If he has written any other, I beg you will let me see
it; and if he has not, I beg him to lose no time in supplying the
deficiency. It is full of promise; but I should like to know his age.
There are things in it that are very clever, to which I attach small
importance; it is the shape of the age. And there are passages,
particularly the rally in presence of the Zulu king, that show genuine
and remarkabl