Letter to Mr. Hemingsley (14 march 1890)
This letter was written by Arthur Conan Doyle on 14 march 1890 from Bush Villa, Southsea, to Mr. Hemingsley.
Letter
Bush Villa
Southsea
March 14th /90
Dear Hemingsley
Many thanks for your note. I have forwarded a copy of "The Sign of Four" for Mr. Palmer. Lippincott is so little read as yet that the story is fresh to the public. Yet I should never have thought of using it as a serial had I not had several unsolicited requests from different papers. So I thought I might as well extend it. No other offer in the Birmingham district. I think the intermediate syndicate may very well be dispensed with in transactions between author and editor.
Saw Longmans yesterday. The Polestar was sold right out in a day. They are now reprinting, and no doubt your copy will reach you then. "Mysteries & Adventures" is a pirated edition of tales written years ago in London Society — some of them when I was little more than a boy. It is rough on me having these youthful effusions brought out in this catchpenny fashion, but I have no legal redress. The less reviewed or read they are the better. So glad you liked Micah. He has made some warm friends. I am on a historical novel now "The Vital Message" which I think will be better than Micah.
With kindest regards
Yours very truly
A. Conan Doyle
