Yvette to Henri.

28 June

Darling,

I wrote you two letters this morning and send you a telegram but I have just noticed that today is the 28^th and not the 27 as I wrote this morning. You will say that I must be mad to write 3 letters in a day, but I want to tell you why; it’s like this. First a note to catch the military mail. Then a letter…. As for the telegram, it was just to say to you “Darling I am very close to you, write to me”…. Now then I want to chat with you…(describes hotel room, roofs outside; repeats effect of his letter; trip to Paris) I spoke for a long time about you with Jacqueline, but decided to put myself to the test. And the test was rather hard, darling… I feel your love and mine. And nothing can prevent me from loving you. The proof of fire, the proof of water, of distance, of myself, everything has been passed and finally I feel myself victorious. After so many of your tears, and of mine too, but you will forgive me, wont you Henri, all those torrents of tears? (Love, love and more love).

Since this morning I have turned over and over in my head all possible routes to Warsaw.  While walking, working and eating. The road is open to me to Prague and then to the Czech-Polish border. But after that, what to do? And then there are a thousand other things. I can’t leave my work for more than two or three days. And Czech money is very dear. Yes certainly as Madame Adler I could perhaps pass. But I have no paper in that name and my marriage certificate, which is in Paris and gives a Palestinian nationality for both of us, would not help things at all…. You say only that you have arrived in Poland to begin a new life. Are you going to stay there? That complicates even more a situation already not simple. If it weren’t for Ouri I would tell you that I will arrive to impose on you my presence and my heart, but really to expatriate the little one again, is a grave matter. We would have to have a good long talk about that… (Love love and more love)… I want to take your arm and dance, I want to sing and laugh and you wont stop me will you darling? I want to lay my head in the crook of your arms and kiss you and kiss you without end; I want to stretch out near you and find you every evening, every morning; your tender smile and your eyes and your big nose and your white soft skin, all are so fine for me. I feel the earth that vibrates with your step and the wind, which carries your heart to me. I also feel my liberated body, filled with love. And in me there is only love…. There are vile buts collecting in the ashtray because I smoke more and more when I write. You absolutely must stop me smoking. Do you hear Henri darling? You must stop me doling that. First of all it is very bad for pregnant women. And from the time we are together you must take this into grave consideration. Yes sir. Perfectly. Tell me, darling, do you have news of your sister? I must write to her. But you must first of all. You could tell her again that your wife is small and fat with freckles. Actually I am not fat at the moment. But the freckles are still there, faithful as ever. {Happiness, love… I know a little boy who will be happy: it is Ouri. For a long time now he has urged me to marry and have more children! He wants a sister. I have already told you at length his reasons in one of the letters I sent you from Belmont. He is truly a delicious kid. But you mustn’t spoil him too much; promise? Centuries are not sufficient for me to tell you all that I want to…. When I arrived in Vienna I wrote to Jacqueline saying that I would try to visit Poland, without having the least idea that you would be there. It is truly comical. Poland is one of those countries that gives you hope. Despite all that is still goes badly, I have the impression from afar of a people on the go. And that is strengthening. Hang on, I’ve just had an idea. You must become the Polish Ambassador in Paris. That would be an ideal way of working for them, without obliging the Fafa (family) to emigrate. Think seriously about it. I am convinced that it’s an inspired idea! As for me, I promise to do my best as the Ambassador’s wife… I began to write in Belmont and I continued here. And here I am, instead of writing, I write to you. Be careful darling. You ruin my career.

How do you feel on reading this mad letter, my poor darling? I am not very nice. I should perhaps explain to you at length the two years past. But look here I am not ready for that. I am ready to live, to laugh to love you and I will do all that without asking your permission. Write to me quickly Henri. I impatiently await your letter; I await you.

Soon my love; soon our joy will be joined.  I hold you to my heart. I kiss you

Your Yvette