1. AL, 351–52.

2. AL, 345–46. In ME.

3. The quotes that follow are taken from Clara's handwritten report, which Twain labeled “Clara's Narrative” and inserted in AL, 354–73; Clara recorded the conversation as direct dialogue.

4. Clara said that Mrs. Lyon repeated here her earlier remark about faithful devotion, so I have repeated that quotation at this point.

5. “Clara's Narrative,” in AL, 374–75. Although Clara is vague about the exact timing of Lounsbury's observation of Mrs. Ashcroft at her window, it seems reasonable that he saw her around this time.

6. Again, all quotes are taken directly from “Clara's Narrative” in AL, 354–73.

7. AL, 375–76. My thanks to Sally Gordon for her legal perspective on this interaction.

8. See “Clara's Narrative,” in AL, 364–65; AL, 234–35; “Report of Miss X,” ph., DeVoto Papers, Stanford, Calif.

9. AL, 424–26.

10. AL, 388, 72.

11. AL, 78–79. See also RWA, “Memorandum for Mr. Rogers re. Clemens' Matter,” AL File; RWA to Mr. Stanchfield, July 30, 1909, titled “The Ashcroft's Defense in Suit against S.L. Clemens,” AL File. On the contract Clemens signed on Clean-Up Day, see chapter 12.

12. SLC's reply to Charles Lark to ABP, Aug. 10, 1909, 2 (in ME), AL File, hereafter cited as “SLC reply.” SLC Probate, 4. In the summer of 1909, Clemens reckoned his investments in hairpins and safety pins at $12,000. It is unclear whether this figure included the earlier sum of $4,500 he had invested in 1904 (see chapter 8). Also see one-page summary of the settlement with the Ashcrofts dated Sept. 10, 1909, AL File.

13. “SLC reply,” 10. In ME.

14. “SLC reply,” 11–13; also AL> 8–9. Note that the original Plasmon investment was Twain's own doing. At his death, Twain owned 400 stock shares and 32 bonds in the American Mechanical Cashier Company, all worthless; 375 shares of the Plasmon Milk Products Company, “which stock is practically worthless,” according to his probate inventory; and 345 shares of the Koy-lo (hairpin) Company, again worthless according to probate records. See SLC Probate.