University of Virginia Library

12. XII.

My dear Doctor: If you have any influence
over Flemming, I beg of you to exert it to prevent
his coming to this place at present. There
are circumstances, which I will explain to you
before long, that make it of the first importance
that he should not come into this neighborhood.
His appearance here, I speak advisedly, would be
disastrous to him. In urging him to remain in
New York, or to go to some inland resort, you
will be doing him and me a real service. Of
course you will not mention my name in this
connection. You know me well enough, my
dear doctor, to be assured that, in begging your
secret co-operation, I have reasons that will meet
your entire approval when they are made plain
to you. We shall return to town on the 15th
of next month, and my first duty will be to

present myself at your hospitable door and satisfy
your curiosity, if I have excited it. My
father, I am glad to state, has so greatly improved
that he can no longer be regarded as
an invalid. With great esteem, I am, etc., etc.