第49部分(第1/8 頁)

hat　he　used　to　express　the　hope　that　he　might　live　to　make　your　acquaintance。　I　replied　that　I　knew　the　pleasure　that　it　would　give　you　to　know　you　had　soothed　the　dying　moments　of　such　a　man；　whereupon　she　begged　me　to　write　and　tell　you。　She　was　very　much　affected　in　speaking　of　this　and　of　her　husband；　and　I　had　subsequently　a　very　interesting　conversation　with　her　about　him　and　the　rest　of　her　family。　。　。　。　You　will　be　glad　to　hear　that　the　Prince　of　Wales　and　his　family　read　“Cleopatra”　on　their　way　out　here；　and　think　it　your　best　book。

On　December　3；　1889；　I　wrote　to　the　Empress　as　follows：

Madam；　—　My　brother　has　written　to　me　from　Athens；　saying　that　your　Majesty　is　disposed　to　honour　me　by　accepting　the　dedication　of　my　romance；　“Eric　Brighteyes。”

In　a　letter　to　him　—　which　I　believe　your　Majesty　has　seen　—　I　have　set　out　the　reasons　which　caused　me　to　make　this　offer。　Therefore　I　will　not　trouble　your　Majesty　by　repeating　them　any　further　than　to　say　how　deeply　honoured　I　shall　be　should　you　finally　decide　to　accept　my　dedication。

I　now　enclose　for　your　Majesty’s　consideration　that　which　I　have　written　to　this　end。　Should　I　be　so　fortunate　as　to　win　approval　for　my　draft　dedication；　would　it　be　too　much　to　ask　that　one　of　the　enclosed　copies　may　be　returned　to　me　signed　by　your　Majesty’s　hand；　or　that　a　written　approval　may　be　conveyed　to　me　in　some　other　way？　I　ask　this　in　order　to　protect　myself　from　any　possible　future　charge　of　h