I added-- "Aldrich has never had his peer for prompt and pithy and witty and humorous sayings.

None has equalled him, certainly none has surpassed him, in the felicity of phrasing with which he clothed these children of his fancy.

Aldrich was always brilliant, he couldn't help it, he is a fire-opal set round with rose diamonds; when he is not speaking, you know that his dainty fancies are twinkling and glimmering around in him; when he speaks the diamonds flash.

Yes, he was always brilliant, he will always be brilliant; he will be brilliant in hell--you will see." Stevenson, smiling a chuckly smile, "I hope not." "Well, you will, and he will dim even those ruddy fires and look like a transfigured Adonis backed against a pink sunset." * * * * * There on that bench we struck out a new phrase--one or the other of us, I don't remember which--"submerged renown." Variations were discussed: "submerged fame," "submerged reputation," and so on, and a choice was made; "submerged renown" was elected, I believe.

This important matter rose out of an incident which had been happening to Stevenson in Albany.
While in a book-shop or book-stall there he had noticed a long rank of small books, cheaply but neatly gotten up, and bearing such titles as "Davis's Selected Speeches," "Davis's Selected Poetry," Davis's this and Davis's that and Davis's the other thing; compilations, every one of them, each with a brief, compact, intelligent and useful introductory chapter by this same Davis, whose first name I have forgotten.