" An old friend of mine edits the "Herald," and I'm
indebted to him for the suggestion.'
His voice was a trifle husky, but he spoke like a man of
education.
'Most people will take it for fiction. I wish I had inventive
power enough to write fiction anything like it. I have published
novels, Mr Reardon, but my experience in that branch of
literature was peculiar --as I may say it has been in most others
to which I have applied myself. My first stories were written for
"The Young Lady's Favourite," and most remarkable productions
they were, I promise you. That was fifteen years ago, in the days
of my versatility. I could throw off my supplemental novelette of
fifteen thousand words without turning a hair, and immediately
after it fall to, fresh as a daisy, on the "Illustrated History
of the United States," which I was then doing for Edward Coghlan.
But presently I thought myself too good for the "Favourite"; in
an evil day I began to write three-volume novels, aiming at
reputation. It wouldn't do. I persevered for five years, and made
about five failures.
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