“What are you smiling at?” I answered: “Are you not dissuading me from venturing to come to London as a writer?” After a moment’s hesitation he said with a smile: “Yes! I believe I am.” “I was smiling to think,” I said, “that if I had not known the accuracy and wisdom of all you have said I should have been here long ago!” That seemed to interest him; he was far too clever a man to waste time on a fool. Presently he said: “Now, why do you think it better to be in London? Could you not write to me, for instance, from Dublin?” “Oh! yes, I could write well enough, but I have known that game for some time. I know the joy of the waste-paper basket and the manuscript returned—unread. Now Mr. Knowles,” I went on, “may I ask you something?” “Certainly!” “You are, if I mistake not, a Scotchman?” He nodded acquiescence, keeping his eye on me and smiling as I went on: “And yet you came to London. You have not done badly either, I understand? Why did you come?” “Oh!” he answered quickly, “far be it from me to make little of life in London or the advantages of it. Now look here, I know exactly what you feel. Will you send me anything which you may have written, or which you may write for the purpose, which you think suitable for the _Nineteenth Century_? I promise you that I shall read it myself; and if I can I will find a place for it in the magazine!” I thanked him warmly for his quick understanding and sympathy, and for his kindly promise. I said at the conclusion: “And I give you my word that I shall never send you anything which I do not think worthy of the _Nineteenth Century_!” From that hour Sir James and I became close friends. I and mine have received from him and his innumerable kindnesses; and there is for him a very warm corner in my heart. Strange to say, the next time we spoke of my writing in the _Nineteenth Century_ was when in 1881 he asked me to write an article for him on a matter then of much importance in the world of the theatre. I asked him if it was to be over my signature. When he said that was the intention, I said: “I am sorry I cannot do it. Irving and I have been for now some years so closely associated that anything I should write on a theatrical subject might be taken for a reflex of his opinion or desire. Since we have been associated in business I have never signed any article regarding the stage unless we shared the same view. And whilst we are so associated I want to keep to that rule. Otherwise it would not be fair to him, for he might get odium in some form for an opinion which he did not hold! As a matter of fact we join issue on this particular subject!”