Then we shall go to your house, the day you wish.  My chief talk with you will be to listen to you and to love you with all my heart.  I shall bring what I have “On the stocks.”  That will give me courage, as they say here, to read to you my embryo.  If I could only carry the sun from Nohant.  It is glorious.

I embrace and bless you.

G. Sand

XXIV.  TO GUSTAVE FLAUBERT Paris, 10 November, 1866

On reaching Paris I learn sad news.  Last evening, while we were talking—­and I think that we spoke of him day before yesterday—­my friend Charles Duveyrier died, a most tender heart and a most naive spirit.  He is to be buried tomorrow.  He was one year older than I am.  My generation is passing bit by bit.  Shall I survive it?  I don’t ardently desire to, above all on these days of mourning and farewell.  It is as God wills, provided He lets me always love in this world and in the next.

I keep a lively affection for the dead.  But one loves the living differently.  I give you the part of my heart that he had.  That joined to what you have already, makes a large share.  It seems to me that it consoles me to make that gift to you.  From a literary point of view he was not a man of the first rank, one loved him for his goodness and spontaneity.  Less occupied with affairs and philosophy, he would have had a charming talent.  He left a pretty play, Michel Perrin.

I travelled half the way alone, thinking of you and your mother at Croisset and looking at the Seine, which thanks to you has become a friendly goddess.  After that I had the society of an individual with two women, as ordinary, all of them, as the music at the pantomime the other day.  Example:  “I looked, the sun left an impression like two points in my eyes.”  Husband:  “That is called luminous points,” and so on for an hour without stopping.

I shall do all sorts of errands for the house, for I belong to it, do I not?  I am going to sleep, quite worn out; I wept unrestrainedly all the evening, and I embrace you so much the more, dear friend.  Love me more than before, because I am sad.

G. Sand

Have you a friend among the Rouen magistrates?  If you have, write him a line to watch for the name Amedee Despruneaux.  It is a civil case which will come up at Rouen in a few days.  Tell him that this Despruneaux is the most honest man in the world; you can answer for him as for me.  In doing this, if the thing is feasible, you will do me a personal favor.  I will do the same for any friend of yours.

XXV.  TO GUSTAVE FLAUBERT 11 November, 1866

I send you my friend Despruneaux in person.  If you know a judge or two,—­or if your brother could give him a word of support, do arrange it, I kiss you three times on each eye.