Page:The life and writings of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) (IA lifewritingsofal00spurrich).pdf/269

 "What a fine subject for a novel!"

"Write it," said the king, and Dumas promptly answered

"I will."

The dramatised version of the story produced at the Haymarket, and the consequent popularity of the book itself will have made the plot generally familiar. This is another case in which English managers, who have so generally disdained Dumas's dramatic work, have adapted for the stage a book which even the skilled instinct of its author failed to find suitable for dramatic use.

"Les Mariages de Père Olifus," rather loosely described as "a sequel to the 'Mille-et-un Fantômes, is said to have been written with Paul Bocage, and was one of the results of the trip to Amsterdam mentioned above. It is an extraordinary work, and decidedly deserves much more attention than it has received at the hands of critics. From a letter with which Mr W. M. Rossetti has kindly favoured us, it appears that the story was specially liked by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a great admirer of our author.

"If a question were raised as to particular novels (by Dumas) specially admired by my brother," he writes, "I could mention 'Monte Cristo,' 'Trois Mousquetaires,' 'Bragelonne,' 'Père Olifus,' 'Ingénue,' 'Les Quarante-Cinq,' I think also 'La