Dear Irène,

I got your letter of June 5 which arrived in Warsaw the 12th. I find that [delay] excessive... I arrived in Prague this morning and will leave tomorrow evening for Jachymow. I’m bewildered by the life I’m leading and incapable of telling you anything intelligent. I ask myself, what fundamental vice is there in the organization of humanity that makes this sort of agitation, to a certain degree, necessary? Mrs. Meloney [the American journalist who encouraged Marie to expose herself to the press] would call it, “Dignifying science.” And what’s undeniable is the sincerity of everyone who does these things and their conviction that they are necessary.

Here I’m in a magnificent apartment, bedroom, sitting-room and bathroom, overlooking the river bordered by hills, and full of flowers they gave me at the train station—mostly roses since it’s their season. Unfortunately it’s gray, and I’m afraid it will rain.... With hugs,

Mé


—from Correspondance p. 255.