第49部分(第2/8 頁)

aving　presumed　to　write　what　I　have　written　without　full　permission。

Next　es　a　letter　from　the　Empress　to　my　brother　William。

Naples；　Grand　Hotel：　December　13；　1889。

The　Empress　Frederick　has　received　a　few　days　ago　a　letter　from　Mr。　Haggard’s　brother　on　the　subject　of　the　dedication　of　his　romance；　“Eric　Brighteyes。”

The　Empress　will　have　the　greatest　pleasure　in　accepting　the　dedication；　and　begs　Mr。　Haggard　to　tell　his　brother　so；　and　also　to　convey　her　grateful　thanks　to　him　in　her　name；　for　his　letter　and　for　the　drafts　of　his　dedication；　to　which　the　Empress　would　suggest　a　small　alteration；　which　has　been　inserted　in　one　copy。

It　is　indeed　true　that　the　Emperor　Frederick　while　at　San　Remo　—　during　those　months　of　anxiety；　of　alternate　hopes　and　fears；　which　he　bore　with　a　fortitude；　patience　and　gentleness　never　to　be　forgotten　—　found　great　pleasure　in　reading　Mr。　Rider　Haggard’s　books。　He　as　well　as　the　Empress　especially　admired　“Jess；”　of　which　she　read　out　a　great　part　to　him　aloud。　How　pleasant　were　the　hours　so　spent　—　and　how　bitter　it　is　to　look　back　on　the　last　happiness　of　days　never　to　return　—　can　easily　be　imagined。

Mr。　Rider　Haggard　says　in　his　letter　that　he　leaves　for　Greece　on　the　13th：　so　the　Empress　sends　this　on　to　Athens。　The　Empress　hopes　the　slight　change　she　suggests　in　one　passage　of　the　dedication　—　which　she　thinks　charming　—　will　not　annoy　the　author；　and　she　is　anxiously　looking　forward　to　reading