I meant to telegraph Mr Langdon’s death to you, but was kept too busy.

This is a house of mourning, now. My wife is nearly broken down with grief & watching.1explanatory note

However, I believe I did.Ⓐemendation telegraph you.

I wrote that publisher that your bid was lower than his, but not enough lower to justify me in deserting you. He wrote back a hot answer, saying “he was surprised to hear me confess that his bid was the highest, & in theⒶemendation same letter say that I had awarded the book to you.” I sent him back a warm one in which I said I was surprised at his infernal impertinence—& then I showed talked sassy to him for a page or so & wound up by saying I judged he would be able from the foregoing to form a sort of vagu shadow of an idea of my private opinion of him & his kind. If he don’t go mighty sh slowⒶemendation I will print something personal about him.2explanatory note

Say—I learn from Constantinople that the celebrated guide, “Far‐Away Moses” goes to the American Consulate & borrows my book to read the chapter about himself to English & Americans, & he sends me a beseeching request that I will forward that a copy of that chapter to him—he don’t want the whole book, but only just that to use as an advertisement. Can’t you take the loose sheets of that form & send them to him with my compliments (you or Frank can write the autograph,) care of the American Consulate?3explanatory note