(I think, but do not know.)— Can’t you do a fellow a kindness? I want a gold watch that will tell the minutes, the hours, & the days of the month. Stemwinder. “Stops” & second-handⒶemendation no object. If it will simply tell me the day of the month, & wind in the stem, I will manage to guess the time of day. To cost not more than £100. (& as much less as is reasonably possible for a good article. ) My wife makes me a present of this watch. I suppose it can’t be had for the money, but some time when you are down in the city or over in Switzerland or Paris I wish you’d see. If you succeed I’ll send the money & you wear the watch till you find a friend willing to wear it over-sea & gouge the duty.

Bret Harte & I are cordial enemies; so I had to rehearse & bring out our play by myself at the Fifth Avenue last Tuesday. It is proving a bigger success, even than “Col. Sellers” was. Chatto was there. Chatto is a fine man & a gentleman. I like him. We had a chat at the Lotos Club next day. I have left precious little of Harte in “Ah Sin,” & what there is he stole from other people. He is an incorrigible literary thief—& always was. I saved a raft of newspaper notices to send to you—saved them so carefully I can’t put my hand on them now. But when found will send.

I’ve written a new play, by myself, but shall let it lie & ripen under correction several months. Judges say the chief character is enormous. (I’m one of those judges.)

If Raymond should go to England, I can show him a trick or two.

Love to you all. Madam says we go to Germany (via England) next year. (She is boss.)