LETTERS FROM 1866 TO 1872. 89 



of success, even in a money sense ; for what 

 publisher would not grasp at a work com- 

 mended by Disraeli ? This is a day of triumph 

 to me. In an obscure country village, per- 

 sonally totally unknown, name never heard of, 

 without the least assistance from any living 

 person, alone and unaided, I have achieved the 

 favourable opinion of the man who stands 

 highest in OUT age for intellectual power, who 

 represents the nobility, gentry, and clergy of 

 the land, who is the leader of half England. 

 This, too, after enduring the sneers and bitter 

 taunts of so many for idleness and incapacity. 

 Hard, indeed, have I worked these many 

 months since I last saw you, and at all times 

 it has been my intention and looked forward 

 to as a reward to write and tell you of my 

 success. And at last at last ! Write to me 

 and tell me you rejoice, for without someone 

 to rejoice with you, success itself is cold and 

 barren. My success is now assured. . . ." 



A few days later he has to tell his aunt of 

 another brilliant success of the same shadowy 

 character. He calls it a "singular stroke of 



