In his heart he knew that he could talk better than he wrote.
He got his brother to announce boldly in _The World_ that owing to the "astonishing success of his 'Poems' Mr.Oscar Wilde had been invited to lecture in America." The invitation was imaginary; but Oscar had resolved to break into this new field; there was money in it, he felt sure.
Besides he had another string to his bow.

When the first rumblings of the social storm in Russia reached England, our aristocratic republican seized occasion by the forelock and wrote a play on the Nihilist Conspiracy called _Vera_.

This drama was impregnated with popular English liberal sentiment.

With the interest of actuality about it _Vera_ was published in September, 1880; but fell flat.
The assassination of the Tsar Alexander, however, in March, 1881; the way Oscar's poems published in June of that year were taken up by Miss Terry and puffed in the press, induced Mrs.Bernard Beere, an actress of some merit, to accept _Vera_ for the stage.

It was suddenly announced that _Vera_ would be put on by Mrs.Bernard Beere at The Adelphi in December, '81; but the author had to be content with this advertisement.