It is too bad, but I am called to Paris on business & the chances are I am a little afraid that I shall may not get back in time for Hepworth on the 8th—I do wish we had cos chosen Ⓐemendationthe later day, now.1explanatory note I promised to help write up the Shah for the N. Y. Herald at £20 a column, gold, & have done him up pretty voluminously so far, but they insist upon my going to Paris & “doing” him there—& I did intimate that I would, in the first place, but had never thought of it since—never imagined they could want it, in fact.

Now I have a strong hope & belief that I can be back here Monday the 7th & thus save Hepworth. Four days of the Shah in Paris will be all of him that I can possibly need. Wherefore, won’t it do to hold the engagement open till I can telegraph you from Paris? I go tomorrow & will telegraph you, say Thursday. Mrs. Clemens remains here, & so if the uncertainty won’t do, you can communicate with her.