Acceptance Letter from John Watson to the Publisher
John Watson				London, April 24th, Dear Mrs. Stardust, I received this morning a telegram from my friend Sherlock Holmes asking me to be as soon as possible at Baker Street. He wanted to talk to me about a matter of the highest importance. I thus prepared quickly and hurried to his place. He received me as he always did, in a sober way and always without overflowing, but I could not prevent myself from noticing in his attitude a certain excitement. «Here is the fact», he told me. «I learned from one of my contacts that there was a club where great characters of History correspond with the future. Future! It is extraordinary! The rumor runs that the owner would be very happy if I agreed to join this club.» «With the future? That is wonderful!» I replied. With the years I spent living with Sherlock Holmes, I learned no to be surprised by anything. To correspond with the future is not a foolish idea. We live in a century of extraordinary progress and I do not doubt that science has achieved such a breakthrough. He told me he was extremely interested to join this club, however he had no time for himself therefore was not able to do so. Indeed, even though we no longer live together, I know for sure that he continues to carry out a number of investigations and sometimes even several at the same time. «I thus charge you», he continued, «to take care of this correspondence with people of the future and to answer on my behalf to their questions. Do not hesitate to consult me if you miss a detail, I will be glad to collaborate.» «But, I protested, I am not worthy to be your ambassador to the future generations. The legendary character is you, not me.» «Don't worry my friend, you already wrote many of my adventures and you probably still have as much to write. You always did it in an admirable way and it will be easy for you to do the same in this task.» Finally, Mrs. Stardust, it is me, John Watson, who requests a membership card of your club. People of the next century will be able to address their letters to me personally if they wish or to get informed about my friend Sherlock Holmes to whom I will transmit all the letters. I leave you on these last words because my wife has just brought to me the evening edition of Daily Telegraph. Best regards, Doctor John Watson