Gustave FLAUBERT. L.A.S. "Gve", Croisset Monday evening 21 May [1871], to Élisa SCHLESINGER 2 pages in-8 on blue paper (small split at the fold). A moving letter to his childhood sweetheart, the model for Madame Arnoux in L'Éducation sentimentale. [Music publisher Maurice Schlesinger, Élisa's husband, died on 25 February 1871]. "Did you not receive a letter from me a month ago, as soon as I learned of Maurice's death? How pleased I was with yours yesterday, old friend, always dear - yes, always! Forgive my selfishness. I had hoped for a moment that you would come back to live in France with your son (without thinking of your grandchildren!). & I hoped that the end of my life would be spent not far from you! As for seeing you in Germany, that's a country I'll never set foot in on purpose. I have seen enough Germans this year not to wish to see any of them again. And I will not allow any self-respecting Frenchman to deign to spend even one minute with any of these gentlemen, however charming they may be. They have our clocks, our money & our land. May they keep them and never be heard of again. I wanted to write you some kind words, but here's the bitterness spilling over! Oh, I've been suffering for the last ten months, horribly - suffering to the point of going mad and killing myself. But I've started working again. I try to intoxicate myself with ink, as others intoxicate themselves with brandy - in order to forget the public misfortunes & my particular sadnesses. The greatest is the company of my poor Mum. How she ages! How she weakens! God forbid you should witness the degradation of those you love. Is it really true? Will you be coming to France in 7 February? You must let me know in advance so that I don't miss your visit! [In the meantime, I give you a long kiss on both hands". And he ends with: "Yours always". Correspondance (Pléiade), vol. IV, p. 322.