trying my best to be ashamed--and yet
I do jump at the chance in spite of it. I don't want to write
Irving and I don't want to write Stoker. It doesn't seem as if I
could. But I can suggest something for you to write them; and then
if you see that I am unwise you can write them something quite
different. Now this is my idea:

1. To return Stoker's $100 to him and keep his stock.

2. And tell Irving that when luck turns with me I will make
good to him what the salvage from the dead Co. fails to pay him
of his $500.

[P. S. Madam says No, I must face the music. So I inclose my
effort--to be used if you approve, but not otherwise.]

We shall try to find a tenant for our Hartford house; not an easy
matter, for it costs heavily to live in. We can never live in it
again; though it would break the family's hearts if they could
believe it.

Nothing daunts Mrs. Clemens or makes the world look black to her
--which is the reason I haven't drowned myself.

I got the Xmas journals which you sent and I thank you for that Xmas
remembrance.

We all send our deepest and warmest greetings to you and all of
yours and a Happy New Year!

S. L. CLEMENS.

--[Brain Stoker and Sir Henry Irving had each taken a small interest in
the machine. The inclosure for Stoker ran as follows:]

MY DEAR STOKER,--I am not dating this, because it is not to be
mailed at present.

When it reaches you it will mean that there is a hitch in my machine
enterprise--a hitch so serious as to make it take to itself the
aspect of a dissolved dream. This letter, then, will contain cheque
for the $100 which you have paid. And will you tell Irving for me
--I can't get up courage enough to talk about this misfortune myself,
except to you, whom by good luck I haven't damaged yet--that when
the wreckage presently floats ashore he will get a good deal of his
$500 back; and a dab at a time I will make up to him the rest.

I'm not feeling as fine as I was when I saw you there in your home.
Please remember me kindly to Mrs. Stoker. I gave up that London
lecture-project entirely. Had to--there's never been a chance since
to find the time.

Sincerely yours,
S. L. CLEMENS.

A week later he added what was about his final word on the subject:

Yours of Decemb