Henri to Yvette.

650 Gen Tpt Coy

13 March

Yesterday I received your gift of a truly charming cigarette case. It’s really elegant and looks strange in my dirty, greasy hands. But I use it in the moments when my hands are clean…. How I love you, my little Poussinet de la Fafa!

And since I’m talking of this I want to tell you something about my supposed Don Juan past. There are two misunderstandings. First of all people don’t understand very well this literary personage: Don Juan. I don’t want to discuss that now; I only want to say that people would do better to refresh their knowledge of literature. Finally, there are people who involuntarily and because it is easy, have created a false legend around my rapport with women in my past life.  There you are, two important points that I beg you, dear Madam, to take into consideration. (Here finishes the bunkum) As for the rest, well that’s simple: your Henri is a man, a strange chap who at the age of thirty, after all his sentimental adventures (My God! What a big word..) has pronounced for the first time the words: “I love you” addressed to a woman. And this woman is you, my wife. My only wife. There have never been any others. That’s for sure, as it’s sure there won’t be any others.”   “Think about it. I think about it and when I do I am always so happy. And that’s the gift I send to you. Darling I love you. As on the first day, as at Maadi, as tomorrow and always.”

(PS. what write your sister? Have you received the 71/2 pounds? Does Hanna visit you often? Say gooday to Clara (tell her that I will pull her ears when I return). Peppi)