Marcel PROUST. - Lot 18

Marcel PROUST. L.A.S., 44 rue Hamelin [January 5 or 6, 1920], to Paul Souday; 1 page in-8°, envelope (framed). "I have q.q. friends to dine at the Ritz on Thursday (the 8th) 2. Would you do me the great honor and joy of joining them? I know better than anyone the depth of your grief. But I also know that we don't wear more particularly at a certain moment a mourning that we will never leave. Besides, a hotel restaurant isn't the world. No doubt I would have liked to have chosen a less noisy one for you. But I'm still very ill. Circumstances, however, meant that some time ago I used to go quite often to the Ritz. I don't go there anymore, but I know the draughts, the temperature, I'm better looked after there if I'm in pain, and I'm less likely to get sick again there than elsewhere before I've recovered"...