Believing that Burton was overworking himself, Dr. Baker recommended him to order “a little rubbish in the shape of novels,” from London, and so rest his brain for an hour just before bedtime.  Burton demurred, but the novels were ultimately sent for, they duly arrived, and Burton went through a course of “chou-chou,” as he called it.  After a while, however, he gave up what he had never taken to kindly, and henceforward he nightly “rested his brain,” by reading books in the modern Greek dialects.

151.  Three Months at Abbazia. 1st Dec. 1887-5th March 1888.

On the 1st of December 1887, in order to avoid the fearful boras of Trieste, and to shelter in the supposed mild climate of “the Austrian Riviera,” Burton, accompanied, as always, by his wife, Dr. Baker, and Lisa, went to stay at Abbazia.  The subscriptions for his Supplemental Nights were now pouring in, and they put him in great jollity.  Jingling his money in his pockets, he said to Dr. Baker, “I’ve always been poor, and now we’ll enjoy ourselves.”  Henceforth he spent his money like a dissipated school-boy at a statute fair.  Special trains, the best rooms in the best hotels, anything, everything he fancied—­and yet all the while he worked at his books “like a navvy.”  Abbazia was a disappointment.  Snow fell for two months on end, and all that time they were mewed up in their hotel.  Burton found the society agreeable, however, and he read German with the Catholic priest.  Most of his time was spent in finishing the Supplemental Nights, and Lady Burton was busy preparing for the press and expurgated edition of her husband’s work which, it was hoped, would take its place on the drawing-room table.  Mr. Justin Huntly McCarthy, son of the novelist, gave her considerably assistance, and the work appeared in 1888.  Mr. Kirby’s notes were to have been appended to Lady Burton’s edition of the Nights as well as to Sir Richard’s, but ultimately the idea was abandoned.  “My wife and I agreed,” writes Burton, “that the whole of your notes would be far too learned for her public,"[FN#549] so only a portion was used.  Lady Burton’s work consisted of six volumes corresponding with Burton’s first ten, from which 215 pages were omitted.

Owing to the stagnation of Abbazia, and the martyrdom which he endured from the gout, Burton was very glad to get back to Trieste, which was reached on March 5th.  When his pain was acute he could not refrain from groaning, and at such times, Lady Burton, kneeling by his bedside, use to say “Offer it up, offer it up”—­meaning that prayer alone would bring relief.

To Mr. Payne, 14th March 1888, Burton writes, “I have been moving since yours of March 5th reached me, and unable to answer you. ...  Delighted to hear that in spite of cramp,[FN#550] Vo.  V.[FN#551] is finished, and shall look forward to the secret[FN#552] being revealed.  You are quite right never to say a word about it.  There is nothing I abhor so much as a man intrusting me with a secret.”