e printers deliver them。 。 。 。 Last week we sold over 1000 copies！
This was a large number as books sold in those days； when people were not accustomed to buying novels in one volume； having been in the habit of borrowing them from the library in three。 Moreover； from that day to this the sale of “She” has never ceased； whilst in America it was pirated by the hundred thousand。
All the reviews of it were not good； indeed some of them attacked it strongly。 Others； were enthusiastic。 The Times （a review in The Times then； before the days of Literary Supplements； if good； was very valuable） spoke extremely well of it。 The Times reviewer； however； criticises the Greek upon the sherd。 Had he known that it was the work of Dr。 Holden； one of the best Greek scholars of the day； he might have preferred to leave it unquestioned。 Here is the doctor’s letter on the subject； written from the Athenaeum in March 1886。
Dear Haggard； — Your task is not quite so big as one of the labours of Hercules； but by no means easy without further data。 Do you want the Greek to be such as to deceive the learned world into thinking that it is no forgery； but a genuine bit of antiquity？ If so； the style will have to be taken into account： it won’t do to imitate Herodotus； though it is just the bit suitable for his style； because of the date B。C。 200。
Anyhow； I am just going down to Harrow to examine the Sixth Form for Scholarships； and shall be fully occupied there for a fortnight。 I hope therefore you are not in any particular hurry： if so； I must return you your MS。； which I cannot do justice to without some further consideration of the subject。
Yours sincerely；
H。 A。 Holden。
That my old master did consider it very thoroughly I know for a fact。 I reme