In 1838 Hugo began a play entitled Les Jumeaux (The Twins), but halfway through the third act he relinquished it, and the drama remained unfinished. It was finally published in 1889, as a fragment, after his death. The MS. was broken off with the words, "Interrompu le 28 Aout par la maladie "; and the illness was no doubt that weakness of the eyes by which Hugo for several years was troubled.