_Madame La Duchesse_,
_Allow me to crave your acceptance of the following work, as a
respectful tribute of my attachment._
_I felt some hesitation in offering it, for its main incident cannot
be deemed altogether proper; but I have striven that in its expression
at least, it should not sin against good taste, and I trust that my
endeavours have been successful._
_It is the diary of a summer of my life, in which I have changed
nothing, not even the dates, thinking as I do, that in our efforts to_
arrange _matters we often only succeed in disarranging them. Although
the most important rôle may appear to devolve on Madame Chrysantheme,
it is very certain that the three principal personages are_ myself,
Japan, _and the effect produced on me by that country._
_Do you remember a certain photograph_--_rather ridiculous I must
admit_--_representing that big fellow Yves, a Japanese girl and
myself, grouped closely together as we were placed side by side by a
Nagasaki artist? You smiled when I assured you that the carefully
combed little creature placed between us two, had been_ one of our
neighbours. _Kindly welcome my book with the same indulgent smile,
without seeking therein a meaning either good or bad, in the same
spirit that you would receive some quaint bit of pottery, some
grotesquely carved ivory idol, or some preposterous trifle brought
back for you from this singular fatherland of all preposterousness._
_Believe me with the deepest respect, Madame la Duchesse,_
_Your affectionate_