I did not discuss the Englishman's archaic tastes and was about to take my leave when he told me that he had written a novel the scene of which was Labraz and the chief character the blind nobleman of whom his friend had spoken to me that morning. He added that if I was interested he would lend it to me. I answered that I should be very pleased to read it, and he produced from a cupboard a parcel of sheets tied with red tape and gave it to me. Some time passed before I made up my mind to read it. I now copy it here without adding or omitting anything.
