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So gladly； from the songs of modern speech
Men turn； and see the stars； and feel the free
Shrill wind beyond the close of heavy flowers；
And through the music of the languid hours；
They hear like ocean on a western beach
The surge and thunder of the Odyssey。
Of his extraordinary readiness I need say little； as it is known to all men。 Still； as it may be forgotten when this book is published； if that ever happens； I will give two instances。 Once he called on me； we were going for a walk together； but I was not ready to start。 So he asked for paper； and in half an hour or so finished a leading article — I think it was for the Daily News — which he sent straight to the office by a cabman； to appear without the submission of a proof。 I read that article afterwards； it was on some Shakespearian subject which involved many allusions and much quotation。 I believe that it contained no error。
On another occasion I was travelling with them from St。 Andrews to Edinburgh； and Dr。 Boyd； better known as A。K。H。B。； was our fellow…voyager。 He was a great conversationalist and talked to Lang almost without ceasing。 Presently Lang took off the tall hat he was wearing； placed it on his knee； produced paper and pencil； set the paper on the crown of the hat and began to write like a spiritualist automatist； if that is the right word； all the time keeping up a flow of argument and conversation with A。K。H。B。 At Edinburgh I saw him post the results； without rereading； to the editor of the Saturday Review。 The article appeared in due course without his seeing a proof； and written in his usual clear and beautiful style。
Such is the professional man； but of the friend I know not what to say； save that I reckon it as one of the privileges of my life to be able to call him by that much…misused name； the tenderest； the purest and the highest…minded of human creatures； one from whom true goodness and nobility of soul radiate in every mon word and act； though often half…hidden in a jest； the most perfect of gentlemen — such is Andrew Lang。
To return to the history of “King Solomon’s Mines。” Ultimately that book found its way to Messrs。 Cassells； remended to them； I believe； by Mr。 Henley。 Subsequently Henley reproached me with having taken it out of his hands； and said that he could have got me much better terms。 But I never did take it out of his hands； indeed I never knew that it was in his hands。 If my memory serves me； I heard direct from Messrs。 Cassells informing me that they would publish the book and asking me to call re the agreement。
At any rate I called and in that great building saw a business…like editor whose name I never knew。 He pointed out that the pany was prepared to offer me an alternative agreement。 The first of the two agreements conveyed the copyright to Messrs。 Cassells in return for a sum of； I think； 100 pounds paid down。 The second offered me 50 pounds on account of royalties； to be calculated “at the rate of ten per cent。 of the published price of the book on all copies sold by them during the continuance of the copyright； reckoning thirteen copies to the twelve。”
After my previous experiences as an author 100 pounds on the nail had great attractions。 I had no particular belief in the story which I had thrown off in my leisure hours as a mere jeu d’esprit； especially after its rejection in other quarters。 Even Mr。 Lang’s kind expressions of opinion carried no conviction to my mind； for I did not understand all that it meant ing from such a source。 I set him down as an amiable gentleman with a taste for savages and boys’ books； it did not occur to me that he saw such things every day； and that when he wrote to one who was practically a stranger that he almost preferred this particular boys’ book to “Treasure Island；” the pliment was high and indeed extraordinary。 So after a brief moment of reflection I told the business…like editor that I would sell the copyright for 100 pounds； and he departed to fetch the agreement。
As it chanced； however； there sat in the corner of the room a quiet clerk； whom I had never even noticed。 When the editor had departed this unobtrusive gentleman addressed me。
“Mr。 Haggard；” he said in a warning voice； “if I were you I would take the other agreement。”
Then hearing some noise； once more he became absorbed in his work； and I understood that the conversation was not to be continued。
Still a moment remained for thought。
“Why the dickens；” I reflected to myself； “did he say that to me？ He must have had some reason。” The business…like editor re…entered the room bearing the document in hand。
“I have changed my mind；” I said as he presented it to me： “I will not sell the copyright； I will take the royalty agreement。”
Undoubtedly the quiet clerk in the corner； who was acquainted with the estimate that had been formed of the book by his employers； did me a very good turn； as did my knowledge of men when I acted so promptly on his hint。
The royalty that I accepted might have been higher； at any rate after the sale of a certain number of copies； but it was infinitely better than the acceptance of a small sum down for the copyright of “King Solomon’s Mines；” of which the sale has been very great and at present shows signs of increase rather than of diminution。
Many years later this gentleman wrote reminding me of the incident and forwarding a book that he had published。
“King Solomon’s Mines；” which was produced as a five…shilling book； proved an instant success。 Published about the beginning of October； on December 9th Messrs。 Cassells wrote to me that they had already sold 5000 copies more or less； a large sale for a boys’ book by a practically unknown man。 I wonder how many copies they have sold up to Christmas 1911！ In one form and another the total must run to hundreds of thousands。
Before the book appeared we had gone down to Norfolk for part of the long vacation； not to Ditchingham； which was let； but to a farmhouse at Denton adjoining a farm of our own； where I employed my holiday in ain；” the continuation of “King Solomon’s Mines。” One day I chanced to visit the little town of Bungay and there to see a copy of the Saturday Review which contained a two…column notice of the latter work。 It was written by Lang； although this I did not know at the time。 With delight my eye fell upon such sentences as “All through the battle piece； ‘The Last Stand of the Greys；’ Mr。 Haggard； like Scott at Flodden； ‘never stoops his wing’”； and “to tell the truth we would give many novels； say eight hundred （that is about the yearly harvest）； for such a book as ‘King Solomon’s Mines。’”
By the way； things in this respect have changed since 1885。 I believe that the “yearly harvest” of British novels now numbers nearly three thousand。
I went back to the farm that night feeling sure that my book was going to succeed。 A week or so later I received a note from Lang in which he says： “The Spectator in a ‘middle’ gives you more praise than I did； and is neither known personally to you； I fancy； nor an amateur of savages； like me。 I hope they will give a review also。 。 。 。 I never read anything in the Spectator before with such pleasure。”
One day I took the manuscript of “King Solomon’s Mines” to be bound by Mr。 H。 Glaisher the bookseller。 In the carriage of the Underground Railway I perceived an old lady engaged in a close； indeed an almost ferocious study of the map printed at the beginning of the printed volume which rested on her knees。 This was too much for me。 Drawing the original map from my pocket； I placed it on my knee — we were seated opposite to each other — and began to study it with like attention。 The old lady looked up and saw。 She stared first at her map and then at mine； and stared； and stared。 Twice she opened her mouth to speak； but I suppose was too shy； nor did I； apparently absorbed in the contemplation of my map； written in blood upon a dirty piece of torn linen； the shirt…tail of Don Jose de Silvestra； give her the slightest encouragement。 The end of it was that she seemed to e to the conclusion that that railway carriage in which we were alone together was no place for her。 Suddenly； as we were about to leave a station； she sprang up and