December 16 Sunday – At 169 rue de l’Université in Paris, Sam began a letter to H.H. Rogers, which he finished on Dec. 17, having “started the mill again 6 days ago,” on his JA manuscript, Book III. He’d written a total of 11,800 words, including “this Sabbath evening” of 2,000 words. He saw that Book III would be as long as Book I and twice as long as Book II, which he’d written in Etretat, and that the entire work would be two full volumes in the proposed Uniform Edition.

The gout seems to be entirely gone, & I am as well & strong as I ever was. The profound weakness disappeared all of a sudden a week ago. I could return some visits, now, & lose some time; but fortunately I haven’t any clothes. But they will be on hand in a week & then the interruptions will begin. But they will not be serious. I’m not going to make any serious plunge into social life until way up yonder when the book is done.

When the afternoon tea people come in at 4 and 5 I only say howdy and go back to work. They excuse the laborer [MTHHR 106].