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I have heard of an exquisite hotel in the country； airy；
large rooms； good cookery； not dear； we shall have a couple
of months there； if we can make it out； and converse or … as
my grandfather always said … 'commune。' 'Communings with Mr。
Kennedy as to Lighthouse Repairs。' He was a fine old fellow；
but a droll。
EVENING。
Lloyd has returned。 Peace and war were played before his
eyes at heads or tails。 A German was stopped with levelled
guns； he raised his whip； had it fallen； we might have been
now in war。 Excuses were made by Mataafa himself。 Doubtless
the thing was done … I mean the stopping of the German … a
little to show off before Lloyd。 Meanwhile … was up here；
telling how the Chief Justice was really gone for five or
eight weeks； and begging me to write to the TIMES and
denounce the state of affairs； many strong reasons he
advanced； and Lloyd and I have been since his arrival and …'s
departure； near half an hour； debating what should be done。
Cedarcrantz is gone； it is not my fault； he knows my views on
that point … alone of all points； … he leaves me with my
mouth sealed。 Yet this is a nice thing that because he is
guilty of a fresh offence … his flight … the mouth of the
only possible influential witness should be closed？ I do not
like this argument。 I look like a cad； if I do in the man's
absence what I could have done in a more manly manner in his
presence。 True； but why did he go？ It is his last sin。 And
I； who like the man extremely … that is the word … I love his
society … he is intelligent； pleasant； even witty； a
gentleman … and you know how that attaches … I loathe to seem
to play a base part； but the poor natives … who are like
other folk； false enough； lazy enough； not heroes； not saints
… ordinary men damnably misused … are they to suffer because
I like Cedarcrantz； and Cedarcrantz has cut his lucky？ This
is a little tragedy； observe well … a tragedy！ I may be
right； I may be wrong in my judgment； but I am in treaty with
my honour。 I know not how it will seem to…morrow。 Lloyd
thought the barrier of honour insurmountable； and it is an
ugly obstacle。 He （Cedarcrantz） will likely meet my wife
three days from now； may travel back with her； will be
charming if he does； suppose this； and suppose him to arrive
and find that I have sprung a mine … or the nearest approach
to it I could find … behind his back？ My position is pretty。
Yes； I am an aristocrat。 I have the old petty； personal view
of honour？ I should blush till I die if I do this； yet it is
on the cards that I may do it。 So much I have written you in
bed； as a man writes； or talks； in a BITTRE WAHL。 Now I
shall sleep； and see if I am more clear。 I will consult the
missionaries at least … I place some reliance in M。 also … or
I should if he were not a partisan； but a partisan he is。
There's the pity。 To sleep！ A fund of wisdom in the
prostrate body and the fed brain。 Kindly observe R。 L。 S。 in
the talons of politics！ 'Tis funny … 'tis sad。 Nobody but
these cursed idiots could have so driven me； I cannot bear
idiots。
My dear Colvin； I must go to sleep； it is long past ten … a
dreadful hour for me。 And here am I lingering （so I feel） in
the dining…room at the Monument； talking to you across the
table； both on our feet； and only the two stairs to mount；
and get to bed； and sleep； and be waked by dear old George …
to whom I wish my kindest remembrances … next morning。 I
look round； and there is my blue room； and my long lines of
shelves； and the door gaping on a moonless night； and no word
of S。 C。 but his twa portraits on the wall。 Good…bye； my
dear fellow； and goodnight。 Queer place the world！
MONDAY。
No clearness of mind with the morning； I have no guess what I
should do。 'Tis easy to say that the public duty should
brush aside these little considerations of personal dignity；
so it is that politicians begin； and in a month you find them
rat and flatter and intrigue with brows of brass。 I am
rather of the old view； that a man's first duty is to these
little laws； the big he does not； he never will； understand；
I may be wrong about the Chief Justice and the Baron and the
state of Samoa； I cannot be wrong about the vile attitude I
put myself in if I blow the gaff on Cedarcrantz behind his
back。
TUESDAY。
One more word about the South Seas； in answer to a question I
observe I have forgotten to answer。 The Tahiti part has
never turned up； because it has never been written。 As for
telling you where I went or when； or anything about Honolulu；
I would rather die； that is fair and plain。 How can anybody
care when or how I left Honolulu？ A man of upwards of forty
cannot waste his time in communicating matter of that
indifference。 The letters； it appears； are tedious； they
would be more tedious still if I wasted my time upon such
infantile and sucking…bottle details。 If ever I put in any
such detail； it is because it leads into something or serves
as a transition。 To tell it for its own sake； never！ The
mistake is all through that I have told too much； I had not
sufficient confidence in the reader； and have overfed him；
and here are you anxious to learn how I … O Colvin！ Suppose
it had made a book； all such information is given to one
glance of an eye by a map with a little dotted line upon it。
But let us forget this unfortunate affair。
WEDNESDAY。
Yesterday I went down to consult Clarke； who took the view of
delay。 Has he changed his mind already？ I wonder： here at
least is the news。 Some little while back some men of Manono
… what is Manono？ … a Samoan rotten borough； a small isle of
huge political importance； heaven knows why； where a handful
of chiefs make half the trouble in the country。 Some men of
Manono （which is strong Mataafa） burned down the houses and
destroyed the crops of some Malietoa neighbours。 The
President went there the other day and landed alone on the
island； which （to give him his due） was plucky。 Moreover； he
succeeded in persuading the folks to come up and be judged on
a particular day in Apia。 That day they did not come； but
did come the next； and； to their vast surprise； were given
six months' imprisonment and clapped in gaol。 Those who had
accompanied them cried to them on the streets as they were
marched to prison； 'Shall we rescue you？' The condemned；
marching in the hands of thirty men with loaded rifles； cried
out 'No'！ And the trick was done。 But it was ardently
believed a rescue would be attempted； the gaol was laid about
with armed men day and night； but there was some question of
their loyalty； and the commandant of the forces； a very nice
young beardless Swede； became nervous； and conceived a plan。
How if he should put dynamite under the gaol； and in case o