PREFACE 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — 



(I think this is the proper way 

 to begin every communication of this sort), 

 please let me tell you that this book would, in 

 the ordinary course of events, have seen the 

 light two years ago. A terrible smash-up, 

 however, of which I was the victim, is the 

 cause of the delay. If your verdict is as 

 favourable as it was in the case of ' Gone Away ' 

 (which, by the way, will shortly be published 

 at Is.) I shall be more than delighted. 



THE AUTHOR. 



