Letter to Mr Langbridge (4 august 1891)
This letter was written by Arthur Conan Doyle on 4 august 1891 to Rev. Frederick Langbridge (1849-1922), writer, poet and playwright.
Letter
Dear Mr Langbridge,
I can only say that I would very willingly send you a cheque of a hundred pounds for the poor fund of your parish if you can ever produce a line of my writing to the effect which you quote — that I was arranging a Tauchnitz Edition for you. I distinctly remember making the statement to you, but without those two important words. When I took some pains over the arranging of it I never thought of anyone else in the matter — feeling that in the Rights of translation I had already given you what seemed to me to be an ample 'quid pro quo' for a short delay which could not in any way affect the sale of the book.
I blame no one in the matter except myself however for having signed Spencer Blackett's paper without carefully reading the whole contents.
The sale is, I think, a fair one, and it will continue for I am bringing out a series of articles in 'The Strand' which will come out in book form, and which refers to 'The Sign of Four.' The Other 'Sherlock Holmes' book (A Study in Scarlet) is just coming out in a new edition, the third, which is to be more expensive than its predecessors.
- With kind regards
- Yours very truly
- A Conan Doyle.
