Chapter VIII: Letter VII: To Margaret Polidori

The “unlucky pickle” into which my brother had got was that, as the tenant of No. 72 Newman Street decamped without payment of rent, the furniture &c. of Rossetti, who was sub-tenant of a studio there, were under seizure for the tenant’s default. The picture here mentioned was _Kate the Queen_.

[50 Charlotte Street, London.
1850--? September.]

Dear Aunt Margaret,

Many thanks for your kind gift, which reached me this morning
through Mamma. I need scarcely tell you that it comes very
àpropos, since I have not come out of the late unlucky pickle
without some expense,--or, rather I fear I _shall_ not, since as
yet I cannot say I have lost anything, as in any case I should
have had to pay my rent to some one. But I fear the bad part is
yet to come.

I am glad you liked the sketch of my picture, which is itself in
progress. The size is very large--seven feet and a half by four
feet. There will thus be plenty of scope to put your present to
its use in the procuring models, which I shall proceed to do as
soon as I get to work again--that is, I hope, not later than
Monday.

I remain, my dear Aunt,
Your affectionate nephew,
D. G. ROSSETTI.