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confide in Genung that I had made the appointmentI was so sure it would
fail。 I arrived at 21 Fifth Avenue and was shown into that long library
and drawing…room combined； and found a curious and deep interest in the
books and ornaments along the shelves as I waited。 Then I was summoned；
and I remember ascending the stairs； wondering why I had come on so
futile an errand； and trying to think of an excuse to offer for having
come at all。
He was propped up in bedin that stately bed…sitting； as was his habit；
with his pillows placed at the foot； so that he might have always before
him the rich； carved beauty of its headboard。 He was delving through a
copy of Huckleberry Finn； in search of a paragraph concerning which some
random correspondent had asked explanation。 He was commenting
unfavorably on this correspondent and on miscellaneous letter…writing in
general。 He pushed the cigars toward me； and the talk of these matters
ran along and blended into others more or less personal。 By and by I
told him what so many thousands had told him before： what he had meant to
me； recalling the childhood impressions of that large； black…and…gilt…
covered book with its wonderful pictures and adventuresthe
Mediterranean pilgrimage。 Very likely it bored himhe had heard it so
oftenand he was willing enough； I dare say； to let me change the
subject and thank him for the kindly word which David Munro had brought。
I do not remember what he said then； but I suddenly found myself
suggesting that out of his encouragement had grown a hopethough
certainly it was something lessthat I might some day undertake a book
about himself。 I expected the chapter to end at this point； and his
silence which followed seemed long and ominous。
He said； at last； that at various times through his life he had been
preparing some autobiographical matter； but that he had tired of the
undertaking； and had put it aside。 He added that he had hoped his
daughters would one day collect his letters； but that a biography
a detailed story of personality and performance； of success and failure
was of course another matter； and that for such a work no arrangement had
been made。 He may have added one or two other general remarks； then；
turning those piercing agate…blue eyes directly upon me； he said：
〃When would you like to begin？〃
There was a dresser with a large mirror behind him。 I happened to catch
my reflection in it； and I vividly recollect saying to it mentally： 〃This
is not true； it is only one of many similar dreams。〃 But even in a dream
one must answer； and I said：
〃Whenever you like。 I can begin now。〃
He was always eager in any new undertaking。
〃Very good；〃 he said。 〃The sooner； then； the better。 Let's begin while
we are in the humor。 The longer you postpone a thing of this kind the
less likely you are ever to get at it。〃
This was on Saturday； as I have stated。 I mentioned that my family was
still in the country； and that it would require a day or two to get
established in the city。 I asked if Tuesday； January 9th； would be too
soon to begin。 He agreed that Tuesday would do； and inquired something
about my plan of work。 Of course I had formed nothing definite； but I
said that in similar undertakings a part of the work had been done with a
stenographer； who had made the notes while I prompted the subject to
recall a procession of incidents and episodes； to be supplemented with
every variety of material obtainableletters and other documentary
accumulations。 Then he said：
〃I think I should enjoy dictating to a stenographer； with some one to
prompt me and to act as audience。 The room adjoining this was fitted up
for my study。 My manuscripts and notes and private books and many of my
letters are there； and there are a trunkful or two of such things in the
attic。 I seldom use the room myself。 I do my writing and reading in
bed。 I will turn that room over to you for this work。 Whatever you need
will be brought to you。 We can have the dictation here in the morning；
and you can put in the rest of the day to suit yourself。 You can have a
key and come and go as you please。〃
That was always his way。 He did nothing by halves； nothing without
unquestioning confidence and prodigality。 He got up and showed me the
lovely luxury of the study； with its treasures of material。 I did not
believe it true yet。 It had all the atmosphere of a dream； and I have no
distinct recollection of how I came away。 When I returned to The Players
and found Charles Harvey Genung there； and told him about it； it is quite
certain that he perjured himself when he professed to believe it true and
pretended that he was not surprised。
CCXXXIX
WORKING WITH MARK TWAIN
On Tuesday； January 9； 1906； I was on hand with a capable stenographer
Miss Josephine Hobby； who had successively； and successfully； held
secretarial positions with Charles Dudley Warner and Mrs。 Mary Mapes
Dodge； and was therefore peculiarly qualified for the work in hand。
Clemens； meantime； had been revolving our plans and adding some features
of his own。 He proposed to double the value and interest of our
employment by letting his dictations continue the form of those earlier
autobiographical chapters； begun with Redpath in 1885； and continued
later in Vienna and at the Villa Quarto。 He said he did not think he
could follow a definite chronological program； that he would like to
wander about； picking up this point and that； as memory or fancy
prompted； without any particular biographical order。 It was his purpose；
he declared； that his dictations should not be published until he had
been dead a hundred years or morea prospect which seemed to give him an
especial gratification。 ＇As early as October； 1900； he had proposed to
Harper & Brothers a contract for publishing his personal memoirs at the
expiration of one hundred years from date； and letters covering the
details were exchanged with Mr。 Rogers。 The document； however； was not
completed。＇
He wished to pay the stenographer； and to own these memoranda； he said；
allowing me free access to them for any material I might find valuable。
I could also suggest subjects for dictation； and ask particulars of any
special episode or period。 I believe this covered the whole arrangement；
which did not require more than five minutes； and we set to work without
further prologue。
I ought to state that he was in bed when we arrived； and that he remained
there during almost all of these earlier dictations； clad in a handsome
silk dressing…gown of rich Persian pattern； propped against great snowy
pillows。 He loved this loose luxury and ease； and found it conducive to
thought。 On the little table beside him； where lay his cigars； papers；
pipes； and various knickknacks； shone a reading…lamp； making more
brilliant the rich coloring of his complexion and the gleam of his
shining hair。 There was daylight； too； but it was north light； and the
winter days were dull。 Also the walls of the room were a deep；
unreflecting red； and his eyes were getting old。 The outlines of that
vast bed blending into the luxuriant background； the whole focusing to
the striking central figure； remain in my mind to…daya picture of
classic value。
He dictated that morning some matters connected with the history of the
Comstock mine； then he drifted back to his childhood； returning again to
the more modern period； and closed； I think； with some comments on
current affairs。 It was absorbingly interesting； his quaint； unhurried
fashion of speech； the unconscious movement of his hands； the play of his
features as his fancies and phrases passed in mental review and were
accepted or waved aside。 We were watching one of the great literary
creators of his time in the very process of his architecture。 We
constituted about the most select audience in the world enjoying what
was； likely enough； its most remarkable entertainment。 When he turned at
last and inquired the time we were all amazed that two hours and more had
slipped away。
〃And how much I have enjoyed it！〃 he said。 〃It is the ideal plan for
this kind of work。 Narrative writing is always disappointing。 The
moment you pick up a pen you begin to lose the spontaneity of the
personal relation； which contains the very essence of interest。 With
shorthand dictation one can talk as if he were at his own dinner…table
always a most inspiring place。 I expect to dictate all the rest of my
life； if you good people are willing to come and listen to it。〃
The dictations thus begun continued steadily from week to week； and
always with increasing charm。 We never knew what he was going to talk
about； and it was seldom that he knew until the moment of beginning； then
he went drifting among episodes； incidents； and periods in his
irresponsible fashion； the fashion of table…conversation； as he said； the
methodless method of the human mind。 It was always delightful； and
always amusing； tragic； or instructive； and it was likely to be one of
these at one instant； and another the next。 I felt myself the most
fortunate biographer in the world； as undoubtedly I was； though not just
in the way that I first imag