DEAR MR. TOUCHWOOD,--I wonder if you have forgotten our talk at Sir Herbert's that night? I'm so hoping not. And your scheme for a real Joan of Arc? Do think of me this winter. Your picture of the scene with Gilles de Rais--you see I followed your advice and read him up--has _haunted_ me ever since. I can hear the horses' hoofs coming nearer and nearer and the cries of the murdered children. I'm so glad you've had a success with _Lucrezia_ in New York. I don't _think_ it would suit me from what I read about it. You know how _particular_ my public is. That's why I'm so anxious to play the Maid. When will _Lucrezia_ be produced in London, and where? There are many rumours. Do come and see me when you get back to England, and I'll tell you who I've thought of to play Gilles. I _think_ you'll find him very intelligent. But of course everything depends on your inclination, or should I say inspiration? And then that wonderful speech to the Bishop! How does it begin? "Bishop, thou hast betrayed thy holy trust." Do be a little flattered that I've remembered that line. It needn't _all_ be in blank verse, and I think little Truscott would be so good as the Bishop. You see how _enthusiastic_ I am and how I _believe_ in the idea. All good wishes. Yours sincerely and hopefully, JANET BOND. John certainly was a little flattered that Miss Bond should have remembered the Maid's great speech to the Bishop of Beauvais, and the actress's enthusiasm roused in him an answering flame, so that the cruet before him began to look like the castelated walls of Orleans, and while his gaze was fixed upon the bowl of salad he began to compose _Act II._ _Scene I_--_Open country. Enter Joan on horseback. From the summit of a grassy knoll she searches the horizon._ So fixedly was John regarding his heroine on top of the salad that the head steward came over and asked anxiously if there was anything the matter with it. And even when John assured him that there was nothing he took it away and told one of the under-stewards to remove the caterpillar and bring a fresh bowl. Meanwhile, John had picked up the other bundle of letters and begun to read his news from home. 65 HILL ROAD, St. John's Wood, N.W., _October 10_. DEAR JOHN,--We have just read in the _Telegraph_ of your great success and we are both very glad. Edith writes me that she did have a letter from you. I dare say you thought she would send it on to us but she didn't, and of course I understand you're busy only I should have liked to have had a letter ourselves. James asks me to tell you that he is probably going to do a book on the Cymbalist movement in literature. He says that the time has come to take a final survey of it. He is also writing some articles for the _Fortnightly Review_. We shall all be so glad to welcome you home again. Your affectionate sister-in-law, BEATRICE TOUCHWOOD.