"Among these relics, however, I found a stout box, made of some red
foreign wood, that contained various documents and letters and a bundle
of manuscripts. Under the tape which fastened these manuscripts
together, as you will see, is a scrap of paper on which is written, in
blue pencil, a direction signed 'Allan Quatermain,' that in the event of
anything happening to him, these MSS. are to be sent to you (for whom,
as you know, he had a high regard), and that at your sole discretion you
are to burn or publish them as you may see fit.

"So, after all these years, as we both remain alive, I carry out our old
friend's instructions and send you his bequest, which I trust may prove
of interest and value. I have read the MS. called 'Marie,' and
certainly am of the opinion that it ought to be published, for I think
it a strange and moving tale of a great love--full, moreover, of
forgotten history.

"That named 'Child of Storm' also seems very interesting as a study of
savage life, and the others may be the same; but my eyes are troubling
me so much that I have not been able to decipher them. I hope, however,
that I may be spared long enough to see them in print.

"Poor old Allan Quatermain. It is as though he had suddenly reappeared
from the dead! So at least I thought as I perused these stories of a
period of his life of which I do not remember his speaking to me.

"And now my responsibility in this matter is finished and yours begins.
Do what you like about the manuscripts."

"George Curtis."