to E. L. Burlingame

Saranac, November 1887.

DEAR MR. BURLINGAME,—The revise seemed all right, so I did not trouble you with it; indeed, my demand for one was theatrical, to impress that obdurate dog, your reader.  Herewith a third paper: it has been a cruel long time upon the road, but here it is, and not bad at last, I fondly hope.  I was glad you liked the Lantern Bearers; I did, too.  I thought it was a good paper, really contained some excellent sense, and was ingeniously put together.  I have not often had more trouble than I have with these papers; thirty or forty pages of foul copy, twenty is the very least I have had.  Well, you pay high; it is fit that I should have to work hard, it somewhat quiets my conscience.—Yours very truly,

Robert Louis Stevenson.