May I have it again this month?
or has gold flown away from you?
Ever yours, OSCAR.
THE DEDICATION OF "AN IDEAL HUSBAND" I received the following letter from Oscar early in 1899 I imagine.

It was written in the spring after the winter we spent in La Napoule.
From M.Sebastian Melmoth, Gland, Canton Vaud, Switzerland.
MY DEAR FRANK: I am, as you see from above, in Switzerland with M----: a rather dreadful combination: the villa is pretty, and on the borders of the lake with pretty pines about: on the other side are the mountains of Savoy and Mont Blanc: we are an hour, by a slow train, from Geneva.

But M----is tedious, and lacks conversation: also he gives me Swiss wine to drink: it is horrible: he occupies himself with small economies, and mean domestic interests, so I suffer very much.

_Ennui_ is the enemy.
I want to know if you will allow me to dedicate to you my next play, "The Ideal Husband"-- which Smithers is bringing out for me in the same form as the others, of which I hope you received your copy.

I should so much like to write your name and a few words on the dedicatory page.
I look back with joy and regret to the lovely sunlight of the Riviera, and the charming winter you so generously and kindly gave me: it was most good of you: how can it ever be forgotten by me.
Next week a petroleum launch is to arrive here, so that will console me a little, as I love to be on the water: and the Savoy side is starred with pretty villages and green valleys.
Of course we won our bet--the phrase on Shelley is in Arnold's preface to Byron: but M---- won't pay me! He suffers agony over a franc.