As a conference attendee, I found Hoffman's comments--which, he carefully noted twice I believe, came from "circumstantial evidence"--interesting and possible. Several Twain scholars sat with clenched jaws (and other body parts?), but Hoffman was commended for reporting his findings and, especially, for consulting a San Franciscan, a specialist in gay history. Of course, the traditional explanations could also stand. The news item announcing the Clemens-de Quille "engagement" does seem more like a joke than reality. But . . .I, too, am interested in hearing from Twain scholars on this issue. Joe Alvarez