LETTERS FROM 1866 TO 1872. 87 



man was feeling after that secret force ; he was 

 looking for that lamp. For eight long years 

 he had been engaged in the search after this 

 most precious of all treasures. What was it 

 like the noblest part of himself that which 

 would never die ? Alas ! he knew not. He 

 hardly knew as yet that it was noble at all. 

 So his search carried him continually farther 

 from the thing which he would find. 



On July 28 he writes a most joyful letter. 

 He has achieved a feat which was really re- 

 markable ; in fact, he has actually received a 

 letter from Mr. Disraeli himself on the subject 

 of a work prepared by himself. It will be 

 observed that by a natural confusion he mixes 

 up the success of getting a letter from this 

 statesman with the success of his book. 



" . . . I told you that I had been bending 

 all my energies to the completion of a work. 

 I completed it a short time since, and an op- 

 portunity offering, I wrote to Disraeli, describ- 

 ing it, and asking his opinion. You know he 

 is considered the cleverest man in England ; 

 that he is the head of the rich and powerful 



