A man called on me last week and proposed gravely that I should write a
book upon an idea which had occurred to a friend of his, a Jew living in
New Bond Street. It was a plan requiring the co-operation of a brilliant
writer and that was why he had come to me. If only I would help, the
return of the Jews to Palestine would be rendered certain and easy.
There was no trouble about the poor Jews, he knew how he could get them
back at any time; the difficulty lay with the Rothschilds, the Oppenheims
and such; with my assistance, however, the thing could be done.
I am afraid I was rude enough to decline to go into the scheme on the
ground that I did not care twopence whether the Rothschilds and
Oppenheims went back to Palestine or not. This was felt to be an
obstacle; but then he began to try and make me care, whereupon, of
course, I had to get rid of him. [1883.]