CP 03031/en

Marcel Proust to Lionel Hauser [22 or 23 November 1915]

(Click on the link above to see this letter and its notes in the Corr-Proust digital edition, including all relevant hyperlinks.)

My dear Lionel

With your permission, I’m sending you (as included in this letter) that which concerns those two hundred Caucasian. As for Crédit Industrial, they assure me that my Egyptian, Carpet, etc. has no market at all so far.

Pardon me if I have once again blundered in front of your brother in law. You admitted to me that my error is not entirely my fault. When you had the kindness to speak of him with me, it seemed to me indeed that I could not take out stocks from my stockbroker before liquidation. However, to not neglect having turned to him, I wanted to take a “position” afterwards with him. You told me that my letter had thrown you in an unspeakable rage. The outcome was evident: Lionel tells me of his brother-in-law, he foams at the idea that once my positions are liquidated I’ll get new ones, so it’s before my positions are liquidated that he thinks that I can then turn to his brother-in-law. Let us try to seize the first decent opportunity to take my business away from others[.]

(I must say that I am very happy with Crédit Industriel, which seems to be equally happy with me.) That’s the nature of good intentions, that they often pave the way to Hell. But everything happens, and maybe when I’m better motivated, more favoured by luck, I’ll have a good intention that will come to pass, which won’t displease you, and I’ll be happy.

For Léon, it seemed to me that there was nothing to do; if you’re of a different opinion, I’ll send poor little Bardac to you before he leaves (know that I say poor little without disdain, because I like him very much. But to have lost, in just a few months, an ear, the facial nerve, and that of the leg, his father, and much more besides, is really quite sad. He remains infinitely spirited and full of heart).

Yours truly, with affectionate gratitude

Marcel Proust