I am sure that he would receive you with open arms, for, although a financier to his finger-tips he has remained very friendly and nice to us.  He does not tell us if he is on his mountain of alum for long.  Lina is writing to him and will know soon, shall she tell him that you are disposed to go to meet him, or that you will wait until his return to Paris? anyway until the 20th of May he will get letters addressed to him at the Hotel Italy in Florence.  We shall have to be on the watch, for he writes at long intervals.

I have not the time to say any more to you today.  People are coming in.  I have read Fromont et Risler; I charge you to thank M. Daudet, to tell him that I spent the night in reading it and that I do not know whether I prefer Jack or Risler; it is interesting, I might almost say gripping.

I embrace you and I love you, when will you give me some Flaubert to read?

G. Sand

CCCXII.  To GEOBGE SAND Monday evening

Dear master, Thanks to Madame Lina’s kind note, I betook myself to V. Borie’s yesterday and was most pleasantly received.  My nephew went to carry him the documents today.  Borie has promised to look after the affair; will he do it?

I think that he is in just the position to do me indirectly the greatest service that any one could do me.  If my poor nephew should get the capital which he needs in order to work, I could get back a part of what I have lost and live in peace the rest of my days.

I presented myself to Borie under your recommendation, and it is to you that I owe the cordiality of his reception.  I do not thank you (of course) but you can tell him that I was touched by his kind reception (and stimulate his zeal if you think that may be useful).

I have been working a great deal lately.  How I should like to see you so as to read my little medieval folly to you!  I have begun another story entitled Histoire d’un coeur simple.  But I have interrupted this work to make some researches on the period of Saint John the Baptist, for I want to describe the feast of Herodias.

I hope to have my readings finished in a fortnight, after which I shall return to Croisset from which spot I shall not budge till winter,—­my long sessions at the library exhaust me.  Cruchard is weary.

The good Tourgueneff leaves this evening for Saint Petersburg.  He asks me if I have thanked you for your last book?  Could I be guilty of such an oversight?  You will see by my Histoire d’un coeur simple where you will recognize your immediate influence, that I am not so obstinate as you think.  I believe that the moral tendency, or rather the human basis of this little work will please you!

Adieu, dear good master.  Remembrances to all yours.

I embrace you very tenderly.

Your old Gustave Flaubert

CCCXIII.  To MAURICE SAND Tuesday evening, 27th