He closes by saying that he rather expects to go with Anson Burlingame
on the Chinese embassy. Clearly he was pretty hopeless as to his book
prospects.
His first meeting with General Grant occurred just at this time. In one
of his home letters he mentions, rather airily, that he will drop in
someday on the General for an interview; and at last, through Mrs.
Grant, an appointment was made for a Sunday evening when the General
would be at home. He was elated with the prospect of an interview; but
when he looked into the imperturbable, square, smileless face of the
soldier he found himself, for the first time in his life, without
anything particular to say. Grant nodded slightly and waited. His caller
wished something would happen. It did. His inspiration returned.
“General,” he said, “I seem to be a little embarrassed. Are you?”
That broke the ice. There were no further difficulties.--[Mark Twain has
variously related this incident. It is given here in accordance with the
letters of the period.]