arge and elaborate it in his own fashion. His adaptation of the
letters of Professor Ford, a year earlier, had convinced him that his
plan would work out successfully on a larger scale; he fixed upon
his old friend, J. H. Riley, of Washington--["Riley-Newspaper
Correspondent." See Sketches.]--(earlier of San Francisco), as the
proper person to do the traveling. At the end of November he wrote
Bliss:

I have put my greedy hands upon the best man in America for my
purpose, and shall start him to the diamond field in South Africa
within a fortnight at my expense... that the book will have a
perfectly beautiful sale.

He suggested that Bliss advance Riley's expense money, the amount to be
deducted from the first royalty returns; also he proposed an increased
royalty, probably in view of the startling splendor of the new idea.
Bliss was duly impressed, and the agreement was finally made on a basis
of eight and one-half per cent., with an advance of royalty sufficient
to see Riley to South Africa and return.

Clemens had not yet heard from Riley definitely when he wrote his
glowing letter to Bliss. He took it for granted that Riley, always an
adventurous sort, would go. When Riley wrote him that he felt morally
bound to the Alta, of which he was then Washington correspondent, also
in certain other directions till the end of the session, Clemens wrote
him at great length, detailing his scheme in full and urging him to
write instantly to the Alta and others, asking a release on the ground
of being offered a rare opportunity to improve his fortunes.

You know right well that I would not have you depart a hair from any
obligation for any money. The boundless confidence that I have in you
is born of a conviction of your integrity in small as well as in great
things. I know plenty of men whose integrity I would trust to here, but
not off yonder in Africa.

His proposal, in brief, to Riley was that the latter should make the
trip to Africa without expense to himself, collect memoranda, and such
diamond mines as might be found lying about handy. Upon his return he
was to take up temporary residence in the Clemens household until
the book was finished, after which large benefits were to accrue to
everybody concerned. In the end Riley obtained a release from his
obligations and was off for the diamond mines and fortune.

Poor fellow! He was faithful in his mission, and it is said that
he really located a mining c