Letters to Reynaldo Hahn
9 boulevard Malesherbes
Wednesday [18? July 1894]Dear Sir,
My last letter from Delafosse made me think that he would be coming back any day now, depriving me of my only excuse to invite you to meet up with me. - So if you really want to see me one afternoon very soon, at my house or at your house or on the terrace by the water at the Tuileries or wherever you want, I would be charmed to hear you telling me all about Delafosse's success in London. With my best wishes.
Marcel Proust.
[1894]
Dear Master
If
you would like to come to Delafosse's come and pick me up before
half past one. If you want to see Yeatman come at six o'clock. I
have hardly any time free between the two - but what I would
prefer would be for you to come after dinner or that I come to
your house after dinner. Lavallé will be here at lunchtime (half
past eleven).
Yours
Marcel Proust.
I can't tell you how much good those lines from Mademoiselle Suzette have done me and how much confidence in the future of our friendship they have given me.
[Trouville, September 1894]
[Beginning of letter missing]
[...] came back to Paris (in case you will not
be coming to Trouville). I assure you that if Madame Straus were
not here I would much prefer to come back to Paris this evening
than to let you come to Trouville.
My tenderest sympathy about Mahénu.
Marcel.
Give my respects and affection to Madame Stern which you can extend according to the dosage you think is appropriate.
Grand Hotel Cabourg,
[Tuesday 25 July 1911]
My Monsieur Bunibuls,
I think about you a great deal, but I haven't written to you because Cabourg has not agreed with me this year and I have had terrible asthma. Imagine, my Bunibuls, that every evening when the sun goes down and I haven't yet switched on the lights, I think about you shadly in my little bed and at that moment fat women appear all over the beach to play waltzes on hunting horns and cornets until nightfall. It is enough to make one want to throw oneself into the sea with unhappiness. I think that you really are going to be decorated and yet and yet, I can't tell you how much foolish but unutterable pleasure that gives me. Goodbye Genstil, too much to tell you and can't right now.
B.
Hector has furnished the apartment above his new shop which sounds like the last word in comfort and elegance. Recommend this apartment to any of your friends who are going to Versailles because I think it will be very nice there and they will be well looked after.
[Letter is accompanied by a drawing by Proust with the inscription:]
Sweet Country
Here are the Communards singing the splendid national anthem,
that must be the Minister of War.
Forain.