"This is a hurried note only, to suggest to you first that you should inform Hodder that they are running a grave risk of clashing with Heinmann through this senseless delay in publishing Casca..."

"I have just received your letter, with the enclosure, which I return herewithin. I am sorry that H. and S. should be feeling aggrieved, as, apparently, they are. Do assure Mr. Hodder-Williams that if he has no particular objections to publishing Envious Casca..."

"Send the enclosed missive to Uncle Percy. Isn't he a turn in himself? Fairly bubbling with surpressed passion! But this unwritten agreement business is all rot, and must be scotched..."

"I cannot refrain from sending you the enclosed note. Don't like Charlie, but I prefer his methods to Uncle P's. I am indebted to yesterdays's newspapers for the intelligence that Casca is out today..."

"Herewith the contract. I haven't read it, being too ill to care! I have been taking a cure for a skin-complaint- incresing [?]. I cannot describe to you the horror!..."

"Many thanks for the cheque, and the account. I am so glad that you have taken the hint about those accursed accounts! I cannot cope at all, and hasten to send you back a sheaf of nonsense which means little or nothing to me..."

"Many thanks for the cheque. I am appalled to see what the U.S.A. is now g[?]. How then do I pay E[?] income tax? The whole thing is too ghastly..."

" 'not single spies, but in battalions', which is to say that Richard is laid up with a glandular infection, and doesn't go back on the 20th. So I dont come to town..."

"Many thanks for the cheque. I haven't had time to study the items yet, but I will. I think rather well of Nunneries and have definitely [?] the world..."

"Apparently God has still got a down on us: Ronald took to his bed last week, with an atack of 'flu-[?]-tonsillitis. In fact, it was very nearly quinsy. So I caught a nice cold- just to round things off..."