第39部分(第6/7 頁)

llusions　to　“King　Solomon’s　Mines；”　although　undated；　must　have　been　written　at　this　time；　is　an　enigma　to　me。　I　have　not　the　faintest　idea　to　what　it　refers。

Dear　Mr。　Haggard；　—　Is　it　not　possible　to　make　a　gratuitous　donation　inter　vivos？　Could　not　that　be　done　in　a　separate　instrument？　I　know　not　if　it　matters；　but　if　there　were　any　ready　way　of　gaining　the　point；　I　might　adopt　it。　My　law　is　all　to　the　wind；　and　indeed　I　never　knew　but　a　taste。

I　thank　you　at　least　for　the　remark。

I　e　rarely　to　town；　and　am　usually　damned　sick　when　I　do。　But　if　I　can；　I’ll　try　to　see　you。　（I　know　a　cousin　of　yours　here　by　the　way。）

What　are　you　about？　I　am　again　at　a　boys’　story；　but　I’ve　been　a　year　at　it　already　and　may　be　longer。

Yours　very　truly；

R。　L。　Stevenson。

P。S。　—　Further　reflection　on　“K。S。M。”　makes　me　think　you　are　one　who　gets　up　steam　slowly。　In　that　case；　when　you　have　your　book　finished；　go　back　and　rewrite　the　beginning　up　to　the　mark。

My　case　is　the　reverse：　I　always　begin　well；　and　often　finish　languidly　or　hurriedly。

P。P。S。　—　How　about　a　deed　of　partnership？

This　“deed　of　partnership”　on　the　face　of　it　would　seem　to　suggest　some　scheme　of　collaboration。　Yet　I　do　not　think　that　this　could　have　been　the　case　—　for　the　following　reason。　I　remember　that　my　late　brother　Bazett；　who　was　afterwards　an　intimate　friend　of　Stevenson’s　in　Samoa；　told　me　that　someone；　I　know　not　who；　had　written　to　him　suggesting　that　he　and　I　should　collaborate　in　a　story；　and　that　he　had　returned　an　angry　and　offensive　answer　to　the　suggestion；　as　I　dare　say　it　was　quite　natural　that　he　should　do。　This　answer；　it　seems；　had　however　weighed　upon　his　mind。　At　any　rate　Bazett　informed　me　that　Stevenson　on　several　occasions　s