relief.

To Mr. Payne, 14th March 1888, Burton writes, "I have been moving since
yours of March 5th reached me, and unable to answer you.... Delighted to
hear that in spite of cramp, [550] Vo. V. [551] is finished, and shall
look forward to the secret [552] being revealed. You are quite right
never to say a word about it. There is nothing I abhor so much as a man
intrusting me with a secret."

On March 19th, Sir Richard finished his last volume of the Supplemental
Nights, and in May he was visited at Trieste by his old friend, F. F.
Arbuthnot.

On the 15th of April (1888) occurred the death of Matthew Arnold, who
had for some years enjoyed a Civil List pension of L250 a year; and the
event had scarcely been announced before Lady Burton, without consulting
her husband, [553] telegraphed to the Government to "give Burton
Arnold's pension." This step, characteristic as it was indiscreet,
naturally did not effect its purpose.

Chapter XXXIII. 19th March 1888-15th October 1888, The Last Visit to
England "The Supplemental Nights"

Bibliography:

76. 1st Vol. Supplemental Nights, 1st December 1886. 6th Vol. 1st August
1888.

152. Meeting with Mr. Swinburne and others, 18th July 1888-15th October
1888.

Burton's health continuing weak, he again endeavoured to induce the
Government to release him from his duties. Instead of that, they gave
him what he calls "an informal sick certificate," and from the following
letter to his sister (26th May 1888) we may judge that it was not given
gracefully.

"Yesterday," he says, "I got my leave accompanied by some disagreeable
expressions which will be of use to me when retiring. We leave Trieste
in June and travel leisurely over the St. Gothard and expect to be in
England about the 10th.... The meteorologists declare that the heat is
going to equal the cold. Folky [554] folk are like their neighbours,
poor devils who howl for excitement--want of anything better to do. The
dreadful dull life of England accounts for many British madnesses. Do
you think of the Crystal Palace this year? We have an old friend,
Aird, formerly the Consul here, who has taken up his abode somewhere in
Sydenham. I don't want cold water bandages, the prospect of leave
makes me sleep quite well. With love and kisses to both, [555] Your
affectionate brother, R. F. B."

Burton and his wife reached Folkestone on July 18th. Next day they went
on to London, where they had the pleasure of m