Mr. Low and his wife, who were at this time leaving Paris for good, had been meditating a visit to the Stevensons at Bournemouth on their way home to the United States. [_April 1887._] MY DEAR LOW,--The fares to London may be found in any continental Bradshaw or sich; from London to Bournemouth impoverished parties who can stoop to the third class get their ticket for the matter of 10s., or, as my wife loves to phrase it, "a half a pound." You will also be involved in a 3s. fare to get to Skerryvore; but this, I dare say, friends could help you in on your arrival; so that you may reserve your energies for the two tickets--costing the matter of a pound--and the usual gratuities to porters. This does not seem to me much: considering the intellectual pleasures that await you here, I call it dirt cheap. I _believe_ the third class from Paris to London (_via_ Dover) is _about_ forty francs, but I cannot swear. Suppose it to be fifty. frcs. 50 x 2 = 100 100 The expense of spirit or spontaneous lapse of coin on the journey, at 5 frcs. a head, 5 x 2 = 10 10 Victuals on ditto, at 5 frcs. a head, 5 x 2 = 10 10 Gratuity to stewardess, in case of severe prostration, at 3 francs 3 One night in London, on a modest footing, say 20 20 Two tickets to Bournemouth at 12.50, 12.50 x 2 = 25 25 Porters and general devilment, say 5 5 Cabs in London, say 2 shillings, and in Bournemouth, 3 shillings = 5 shillings, 6 frcs. 25 6.25 ------ frcs. 179.25 Or, the same in pounds, L7, 3s. 6-1/2d. Or, the same in dollars, $35.45, if there be any arithmetical virtue in me. I have left out dinner in London in case you want to blow out, which would come extry, and with the aid of _vangs fangs_ might easily double the whole amount--above all if you have a few friends to meet you.