Translations:CP 05634/5/en

Here is the end of my manuscript, plus the corrected proofs from 1 to 183. It is composed, as you can see, of a large notebook, and a thin notebook. As the thin notebook has been torn out of a larger one and with difficulty sewn back together, I believe it to be a bit fragile. As for the material state (I am only talking about that in this letter) of the pages of these notebooks, I think that those in the thin one are in a less sorry state than those in the thick one, which will probably require the wonderful cryptographic skill that your typist has shown. The corrected proofs have been sent to you with the manuscript. Your printer reads my handwriting in a confusing way. On the other hand, when he had to deal with the Grasset imprint, he changed or skipped words, whole sentences. The characters will not be as small on the proofs, will they, because that would be illegible. I am at your command as regards Grasset. Nevertheless, given that I am at the moment in a rather ill-defined position with him, as you know, and that he is only looking for a pretext to modify things, I think it would be better not to give him cause to do so by making me write to him, and it seems to me that on this inessential issue, which is self-evident, it would be quite natural for you to write to him: "Now that I have become the publisher of Mr. Proust, I wish to buy you out, with his agreement, etc.". Besides, he holds the N.R.F. in high regard. I have not yet received a reply from Montesquiou. Perhaps your friend went to his house with my letter. If he was well received, tell me so that I can thank Montesquiou. I found that your new (shaven) face suits you admirably. I like you in all aspects but this one seemed very pleasant to me. Dear friend, out of discretion, out of lack of strength, out of fear of abusing yours, I have not spoken to you in this letter about the thing I am thinking about the most, your trip (which I learned of quite recently and by chance) and the effect it may have on your health.