19 OCTOBER 1985, Page 24

Reprieve

Sir: It is something of a relief to know that, for the present, my life is not in any great danger (from Nicholas Rankin, Letters, 12 October). I might, though, have reason to be nervous in the future: I am now on volume five of Stevenson's Collected Works; if my energies do not flag, I could well reach volume 24 in time to publish an authoritative opinion of Nicholas Rankin's forthcoming study of his travels.

Christopher Hawtree

113 Albert Palace Mansions, Lurline Gardens, London SW11