You need not to be told, after this, that I accept it with more than readiness. If you will allow me I will go over it with great care, and very slightly touch it here and there. I think it will require to be divided into three portions. You shall have the proofs and I will publish it immediately. I think so VERY highly of it that I will have special attention called to it in a separate advertisement. I congratulate you most sincerely and heartily on having done a very special thing. It will always stand apart in my mind from any other story I ever read. I write with its impression newly and strongly upon me, and feel absolutely sure that I am not mistaken. Believe me, faithfully yours always. [Sidenote: Hon. Robert Lytton.] 26, WELLINGTON STREET, LONDON, _Thursday, 2nd September, 1869._ MY DEAR ROBERT LYTTON, "John Acland" is most willingly accepted, and shall come in to the next monthly part. I shall make bold to condense him here and there (according to my best idea of story-telling), and particularly where he makes the speech:--And with the usual fault of being too long, here and there, I think you let the story out too much--prematurely--and this I hope to prevent artfully. I think your title open to the same objection, and therefore propose to substitute: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JOHN ACLAND. This will leave the reader in doubt whether he really _was_ murdered, until the end. I am sorry you do not pursue the other prose series. You can do a great deal more than you think for, with whatever you touch; and you know where to find a firmly attached and admiring friend always ready to take the field with you, and always proud to see your plume among the feathers in the Staff. Your account of my dear Boffin[105] is highly charming:--I had been troubled with a misgiving that he was good. May his shadow never be more correct! I wish I could have you at the murder from "Oliver Twist." I am always, my dear Robert Lytton, Affectionately your friend. * * * * * Pray give my kindest regards to Fascination Fledgeby, who (I have no doubt) has by this time half-a-dozen new names, feebly expressive of his great merits. [Sidenote: The same.] OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND," 26, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, LONDON, _Friday, 1st October, 1869._ MY DEAR ROBERT LYTTON, I am assured by a correspondent that "John Acland" has been done before. Said correspondent has evidently read the story--and is almost confident in "Chambers's Journal." This is very unfortunate, but of course cannot be helped. There is always a possibility of such a malignant conjunction of stars when the story is a true one.