Iamafraidthatyouwillthinkmeunpardonablynegligentinnothavingansweredyourletterdated[7,December]sooner,butwhenIhavetoldyouthereason,Itrustyouwillbeconvincedthattheneglectwasexcusable.Whenyourletterarrived,Iwasjustin[HongKong].Asmyfamilycouldnotforwardittomeduringmyabsence,ithasbeen,therefore,lyingonmydeskuntilthemomentwhenItookitup.NowthefirstthingIhavetohastentodoistowritetoyouthesefewlinestoexpressmydeepregret.