Девять рассказов
De Daumier-Smith’s Blue Period
However,thisisnotatragicsituation,inmyopinion.ThehappiestdayofmylifewasmanyyearsagowhenIwasseventeen.Iwasonmywayforlunchtomeetmymother,whowasgoingoutonthestreetforthefirsttimeafteralongillness,andIwasfeelingecstaticallyhappywhensuddenly,asIwascomingintotheAvenueVictorHugo,whichisastreetinParis,Ibumpedintoachapwithoutanynose.Iaskyoutopleaseconsiderthatfactor,infactIbegyou.Itisquitepregnantwithmeaning.
ItisalsopossiblethatFatherZimmermanncausedyoutostopmatriculatingforthereasonperhapsthatyourconventlacksfundstopaythetuition.Ifranklyhopethisisthecase,notonlybecauseitrelievesmymind,butinapracticalsense.Ifthisisindeedthecase,youhaveonlytosaythewordandIwilloffermyservicesgratisforanindefiniteperiodoftime.Canwediscussthismatterfurther?MayIaskagainwhenyourvisitingdaysattheconventare?MayIbefreetoplantovisityouattheconventnextSaturdayafternoon,July6,between3and5o’clockintheafternoon,dependentuponthescheduleoftrainsbetweenMontrealandToronto?Iawaityourreplywithgreatanxiety.
Withrespectandadmiration,
Sincerelyyours,
(signed)
JEANDEDAUMIER-SMITH
StaffInstructor
LesAmisDesVieuxMaltres
P.S.InmylastletterIcasuallyaskediftheyoungladyintheblueoutfitintheforegroundofyourreligiouspicturewasMaryMagdalene,thesinner.Ifyouhavenotasyetrepliedtomyletter,pleasegoonrefraining.
