Publisher's Synopsis
To Mr John Blackwood. "Casa Capponi, Florence, Jan. 2,1863 [? 1864]. "I am not sure-so much has your criticism on 'Tony' weighed with me, and so far have I welded his fortunes by your counsel-that you'll not have to own it one of these days as your own, and write 'T. B. by J. B.' in the title. In sober English, I am greatly obliged for all the interest you take in the story, -an interest which I insist on believing includes me fully as much as the Magazine. For this reason it is that I now send you another instalment, so that if change or suppression be needed, there will be ample time for either. "Whenever Lytton says anything of the story let me have it. Though his counsels are often above me, they are always valuable. You will have received O'D. before this, and if you like it, I suppose the proof will be on the way to me. As to the present envoy of 'Tony, ' if you think that an additional chapter would be of advantage to the part for March, take chapters xxv. and xxvi. too if you wish, for I now feel getting up to my work again, though the ague still keeps its hold on me and makes my alternate days very shaky ones.
