agree--much of it I even knew
before--much of it, I must confess, would never have been, if I had been
able to do what I like, and lay the thing by for the matter of a year.
But the wheels of Byles the Butcher drive exceeding swiftly, and
_Jekyll_ was conceived, written, re-written, re-rewritten, and printed
inside ten weeks. Nothing but this white-hot haste would explain the
gross error of Hyde's speech at Lanyon's. Your point about the
specialised fiend is more subtle, but not less just: I had not seen
it.--About the picture, I rather meant that Hyde had brought it himself;
and Utterson's hypothesis of the gift (p. 42) an error.--The tidiness of
the room, I thought, but I dare say my psychology is here too ingenious
to be sound, was due to the dread weariness and horror of the
imprisonment. Something has to be done: he would tidy the room. But I
dare say it is false.

I shall keep your paper; and if ever my works come to be collected, I
will put my back into these suggestions. In the meanwhile, I do truly
lack words in which to express my sense of gratitude for the trouble you
have taken. The receipt of such a paper is more than a reward for my
labours. I have read it with pleasure, and as I say, I hope to use it
with profit.--Believe me, your most obliged,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TO W. H. LOW

The following letter relates to a suggestion which Mr. Gilder, as
editor of the Century Magazine, had already made in the Hyeres time
nearly three years previously, and had now lately revived, that
Stevenson and his friend Mr. W. H. Low should make a joint excursion
down the Saone and Rhone, the result to be a book written by R. L. S.
and illustrated by Mr. Low. Considerations of health caused the plan
to be promptly abandoned for the second time.

[_Skerryvore, Bournemouth, March 1886._]

MY DEAR LOW,--This is the most enchanting picture. Now understand my
state: I am really an invalid, but of a mysterious order. I might be a
_malade imaginaire_, but for one too tangible symptom, my tendency to
bleed from the lungs. If we could go (_1st_) We must have money enough
to travel with _leisure and comfort_--especially the first. (_2nd_) You
must be prepared for a comrade who would go to bed some part of every
day and often stay silent. (_3rd_) You would have to play the part of a
thoughtful courier, sparing me fatigue, looking out that my bed was
warmed, etc. (_4th_) If you are very ne