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 theory is too far-fetched to find adherents. Indeed, the more absurd it is the firmer seems to be its hold on its disciples, who usually end by exalting it into a cult. The Bacon–Shakespeare controversy long ago passed into this stage. Its apostles are few but devoted. Their belief is founded not upon reason but upon faith—the firmest of all foundations.

Fifty or sixty years ago, there were a great many people who believed that the Waverley novels were written not by Sir Walter Scott, but by his brother Thomas, ably assisted by Mrs. Thomas, who was alleged to be far the brightest of the three and to be responsible for such flashes of genius as the novels showed. Sir Walter’s part was merely to polish them up and market them. There was something irresistibly appealing in the idea of a talented woman being exploited in this way, and an elaborate theory was built up to prove that it had actually happened. The theory was founded principally upon a letter Sir Walter had written to his brother inviting him to send on a novel for revision, and promising to advance a hundred