"smallest room in my house"

Posted by Barry Jacobs on July 12, 2000

Can anyone tell me the provenance of the following rejoinder? It sounds to me like Churchill, but I can't swear to it:

"Sir, I'm am in the smallest room of my house. Your letter is before me. Soon it will be behind me."

• A letter from Max Reeger (1873-1916) to a critic. Bruce Kahl 07/12/00