November 6 Monday – In New York Sam spent the afternoon talking to the actor Joe Jefferson, who dropped into the Players Club to see him. Later in the day Sam wrote to daughter Susy, asking her help in comforting her mother while he was away. With the intercession of Rogers, Sam still hoped for riches from the typesetter.

I will drop a line to the dearest of all the dear Susies to say, bear up mamma’s hands & help her to endure our long separation as patiently as she can, for I absolutely must not budge one step from this place until we are safe from the poorhouse.

That I shall succeed, I have not the slightest doubt — if I don’t go rushing across the ocean again too soon. If I budge too soon, I shall fail.

I believe I could run over to France now, for a couple of weeks, but I am not absolutely sure; therefore I am going to wait until I am sure.

We are millionaires if we hold the royalties 12 months….I have wasted not a moment in America; I am wasting no moments now. I have four irons in the fire & I take vigilant care of all of them.

[Note: the four irons: typesetter, Webster & Co., serialization of Pudd’nhead Wilson, and the “new book,” “Tom Sawyer Detective” LLMT 276n10].

Sam also mentioned a new book (“Tom Sawyer Detective”) that he was writing that made him “jolly.” “I live in it. But when I think of Joan of Arc, how I long to get at that again! I should be fixed just right if I could have both books to work on month-about.” He was also being fed by seemingly everyone in New York:

I dined with the Laffans last night; dine with the Huttons tomorrow night; Dr. Rice’s Wednesday night; with him and Mr. Huntington Thursday night; Lotos banquet in my honor Saturday night; Booth Memorial Services with Mrs. Rice next Monday afternoon & dine with the Huttons and Irving, etc. that night. By then I hope to know if I can cross the water for a fortnight [LLMT 276-7].

Note: In his Nov. 7 letter to Susan Warner, he included her in the “etc.” for the Nov. 13 gathering. See Nov. 14 to Livy for others mentioned.

Sam also wrote a short paragraph on Webster & Co. letterhead to Richard Watson Gilder of the Century, that Gilder had not suggested a price for an invited work. Sam would not “venture to suggest prices any more,” since,

…on the three occasions when I made the attempt the editors were shocked. They gave me to understand that I was degrading my art to a trade [MTP].