I have signed, sealed, and delivered a contract for a house (once occupied for two years by a man I knew in Switzerland), which is not a large one, but stands in the middle of a great garden, with what the landlord calls a "forest" at the back, and is now surrounded by flowers, vegetables, and all manner of growth. A queer, odd, French place, but extremely well supplied with all table and other conveniences, and strongly recommended. The address is: Château des Moulineaux, Rue Beaurepaire, Boulogne. There is a coach-house, stabling for half-a-dozen horses, and I don't know what. We take possession this afternoon, and I am now laying in a good stock of creature comforts. So no more at present from Yours ever faithfully. P.S.--Mrs. Dickens and her sister unite in kindest regards. [Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.] CHÂTEAU DES MOULINEAUX, BOULOGNE, _Saturday Night, June 18th, 1853._ MY DEAR WILLS, "BLEAK HOUSE." Thank God, I have done half the number with great care, and hope to finish on Thursday or Friday next. O how thankful I feel to be able to have done it, and what a relief to get the number out! GENERAL MOVEMENTS OF INIMITABLE. _I don't think_ (I am not sure) I shall come to London until after the completion of "Bleak House," No. 18--the number after this now in hand--for it strikes me that I am better here at present. I have picked up in the most extraordinary manner, and I believe you would never suppose to look at me that I had had that week or barely an hour of it. If there should be any occasion for our meeting in the meantime, a run over here would do you no harm, and we should be delighted to see you at any time. If you suppose this place to be in a street, you are much mistaken. It is in the country, though not more than ten minutes' walk from the post-office, and is the best doll's-house of many rooms, in the prettiest French grounds, in the most charming situation I have ever seen; the best place I have ever lived in abroad, except at Genoa. You can scarcely imagine the beauty of the air in this richly-wooded hill-side. As to comforts in the house, there are all sorts of things, beginning with no end of the coldest water and running through the most beautiful flowers down to English foot-baths and a Parisian liqueur-stand. Your parcel (frantic enclosures and all) arrived quite safely last night. This will leave by steamer to-morrow, Sunday evening. There is a boat in the morning, but having no one to send to-night I can't reach it, and to-morrow being Sunday it will come to much the same thing. I think that's all at present. Ever, my dear Wills, faithfully yours. [Sidenote: Mr. Frank Stone, A.R.A.]