Chopin to Fontana; March 17, 1839:—­

I thank you for all your efforts.  Pleyel is a scoundrel, Probst a scape-grace.  He never gave me 1,000 francs for three manuscripts.  Very likely you have received my long letter about Schlesinger, therefore I wish you and beg of you to give that letter of mine to Pleyel, who thinks my manuscripts too dear.  If I have to sell them cheap, I would rather do so to Schlesinger than look for new and improbable connections.  For Schlesinger can always count upon England, and as I am square with Wessel, he may sell them to whomsoever he likes.  The same with the Polonaises in Germany, for Probst is a bird whom I have known a long time.  As regards the money, you must make an unequivocal agreement, and do not give the manuscripts except for cash.  I send you a reconnaissance for Pleyel, it astonishes me that he absolutely wants it, as if he could not trust me and you.

Dear me, this Pleyel who said that Schlesinger paid me badly! 500 francs for a manuscript for all the countries seems to him too dear!  I assure you I prefer to deal with a real Jew.  And Probst, that good-for-nothing fellow, who pays me 300 francs for my mazurkas!  You see, the last mazurkas brought me with ease 800 francs—­namely, Probst 300 francs, Schlesinger 400, and Wessel 100.  I prefer giving my manuscripts as formerly at a very low price to stooping before these...I prefer being submissive to one Jew to being so to three.  Therefore go to Schlesinger, but perhaps you settled with Pleyel.

Oh, men, men!  But this Mrs. Migneron, she too is a good one!  However, Fortune turns round, I may yet live and hear that this lady will come and ask you for some leather; if, as you say, you are aiming at being a shoemaker.  I beg of you to make shoes neither for Pleyel nor for Probst.

  Do not yet speak to anyone of the Scherzo [Op. 39].  I do not
  know when I shall finish it, for I am still weak and cannot
  write.

As yet I have no idea when I shall see you.  My love to Grzymala; and give him such furniture as he will like, and let Johnnie take the rest from the apartments.  I do not write to him, but I love him always.  Tell him this, and give him my love.

  Wodzinski still astonishes me.

When you receive the money from Pleyel, pay first the landlord’s rent, and send me immediately 500 francs.  I left on the receipt for Pleyel the Op. blank, for I do not remember the following number.

Madame Sand to Madame Marliani; Marseilles, April 22, 1839:—­

...I was also occupied with the removal from one hotel to another.  Notwithstanding all his efforts and inquiries, the good doctor was not able to find me a corner in the country where to pass the month of April.

  I am pretty tired of this town of merchants and shopkeepers,
  where the intellectual life is wholly unknown; but here I am
  still shut up for the month of April.