列位看官：你道此书从何而来？说起根由虽近荒唐，细按则深有趣味。待在下将此来历注明，方使阅者了然不惑。 GENTLE READER, What, you may ask, was the origin of this book? Though the answer to this question may at first seem to border on the absurd, reflection will show that there is a good deal more in it than meets the eye.