Paris 6 April 1922
Dear Sir,
I could not be more embarrassed by the wonderful article in which you have been able to understand me so well, and I will not say, in the words of Goethe, to equal me but to surpass me. I am equally embarrassed not to be writing to you myself, but I am gravely ill.
The sole expression of my gratitude is this dictation to a machine, too impersonal for my liking, but necessary however in order to tell you, in my current state of illness and suffering, how sensible I have been of a sympathy for which I beg you to find here the most sincere reciprocation.
Marcel Proust.
Typewritten letter, signed by Proust. Jean Folie-Desjardin had just published in L'Ephémère a pastiche of Du Côté de chez Swann.