[5 May 1916]
Dear Sir,
Please excuse my long silence, which seems inexcusable, but which however has as an excuse that, considering all the difficulties, every day I think I will be able to come to visit you the next day and talk about it. And then here I am having caught a slight cold and don't feel well, but that's nothing. In a day or two I will write you a more precise letter. The question does not arise in the way you think, I will explain to you how the state of my health has the exact effect of not allowing me to believe in the future possibility of any occasion (although they will indeed present themselves) for making music. And I always try to rid myself of any fear or scruple, even when I think they are trifling, so as to avoid adding to my other woes the fatigue of further anxiety. I will come up with the best solution and will write to you about it. Yesterday I got up early enough to have my piano tuned but... I couldn't find a piano tuner. I have of course no objection to M. Lazare Lévy, whose reputation I am aware of. All I can say is just in principle, and except in the case of eminent men like Fauré for example, whose profound talent makes them behave so naturally that they understand everything and one is not embarrassed by anything in front of them (I don't know Fauré very well, but musically I take him as being the equivalent of, among others, Anatole France's naturalness), my health being my great preoccupation, I feel less embarrassed, more at ease, less apprehensive about not being fully dressed in front of these younger, more "student" people. You tell me that you are all masters. But in your case I already know you, the ice is broken. What a shame that one of you wasn't enough of a pianist to play the piano in Fauré's quartet. In any case M. Lazare Lévy seems very good in my opinion, and, if anything, too good. Besides, there is no pianist, as long as he pleases you, against whom I would have any objection in principle. (Apart from one, M. Léon Delafosse, who it would be unpleasant for me to have at my home, unless you insist, but you haven't mentioned him to me). In any case my projects are still so vague, the state of my health so unsteady, that it would be better for you to wait for something more precise before you talk to M. Lévy. When you do write to me (but don't write to me expressly, there's no hurry!) please give me M. Gentil's address. One of you lives in rue de la Pompe, another at the Panthéon or even Chatou. Only M. Gentil lives two minutes from my apartment, which would allow me to sometimes try and arrange a meeting with him at short notice, just in case. I even dropped him off at his home. But I've forgotten the number. Please believe, dear sir, in my feelings of cordial devotion and friendship.
Marcel Proust.
Corr. XV, p. 83. / Livres, manuscrits, autographes, Couton Jamault
Hirn, Nantes, 18 Feb 2025, Lot 64.
Created 08.02.25