f looking for one suited to his taste for the picturesque and
piratical in apparel, and found one in the style of 1830-40, dark
blue and flowing, and fastening with a snake buckle.

_[Menton, January 1874], Friday._

MY DEAR COLVIN,--Thank you very much for your note. This morning I am
stupid again; can do nothing at all; am no good "comme plumitif." I
think it must be the cold outside. At least that would explain my addled
head and intense laziness.

O why did you tell me about that cloak? Why didn't you buy it? Isn't it
in _Julius Caesar_ that Pompey blames--no not Pompey but a friend of
Pompey's--well, Pompey's friend, I mean the friend of Pompey--blames
somebody else who was his friend--that is who was the friend of Pompey's
friend--because he (the friend of Pompey's friend) had not done
something right off, but had come and asked him (Pompey's friend)
whether he (the friend of Pompey's friend) ought to do it or no? There I
fold my hands with some complacency: that's a piece of very good
narration. I am getting into good form. These classical instances are
always distracting. I was talking of the cloak. It's awfully dear. Are
there no cheap and nasty imitations? Think of that--if, however, it were
the opinion (ahem) of competent persons that the great cost of the
mantle in question was no more than proportionate to its durability; if
it were to be a joy for ever; if it would cover my declining years and
survive me in anything like integrity for the comfort of my executors;
if--I have the word--if the price indicates (as it seems) the quality of
_perdurability_ in the fabric; if, in fact, it would not be extravagant,
but only the leariest economy to lay out L5 .. 15 .. in a single mantle
without seam and without price, and if--and if--it really fastens with
an agrafe--I would BUY it. But not unless. If not a cheap imitation
would be the move.--Ever yours,

R. L. S.

TO MRS. THOMAS STEVENSON

The following is in answer to a set of numbered questions, of which
the first three are of no general interest.

_[Menton], Monday, January 19th, 1874._

ANSWERS to a series of questions.

* * * * *

4. Nelitchka, or Nelitska, as you know already by this time, is my
adorable kid's name. Her laugh does more good to one's health than a
month at the seaside: as she said to-day herself, when asked whether she
was a boy or a girl, after having denied both wi