d 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 leapt from the train； at which； the unfolded map still in her hand； she gazed bewildered until it vanished into the tunnel。
Among the many letters that I received about “King Solomon’s Mines；” perhaps the most interesting that I can find are from Robert Louis Stevenson。 The first of these； undated； as they all are； is written from Skerryvore； Bournemouth； where he was living at the time。 Here I should state that to my sorrow I never met Stevenson face to face： always we just missed each other。
Dear Sir； — Some kind hand has sent me your tale of Solomon’s Mines； I know not who did this good thing to me； and so I send my gratitude to headquarters and the fountainhead。 You should be more careful； you do quite well enough to take more trouble； and some parts of your book are infinitely beneath you。 But I find there flashes of a fine weird imagination and a fine poetic use and mand of the savage