DEAR ALLAN QUATERMAIN, You, who, with others, have aided so manfully in the Restoration of King Romance, know that His Majesty is a Merry Monarch. You will not think, therefore, that the respectful Liberty we have taken with your Wondrous Tale (as Pamela did with the 137th Psalm) indicates any lack of Loyalty to our Lady Ayesha. Her beauties are beyond the reach of danger from Burlesque, nor does her form flit across our humble pages. May you restore to us yet the prize of her perfections, for we, at least, can never believe that she wholly perished in the place of the Pillar of Fire! Yours ever, TWO OF THE AMA LO-GROLLA.