Alfred de VIGNY. L.A.S., October 22, 1845, to Delphine de Girardin; 3 pages in-8. Lovely letter (in response to an invitation to come and hear Rachel; Delphine had alluded to the stanzas of La Maison du Berger sur le chemin de fer). "Do you remember a friend even when he lives at your door and is devoted to you? How strange! It's usually the ones you forget. - But why didn't this idea occur to you six days ago? I wouldn't have invited the beautiful ladies and blond and brunette cousins who are coming to spend the evening at my place today, Wednesday. [...] I've only travelled six hundred leagues by rail, and I've always been very bored, but I'd gladly go to your door like that if I were free. I'd even give them a hymn for being free, but I'm the one who hired you; I'm taken. In Jehan de Saintré's time, there was the Dame-des-belles-Cousines; I'm the man-des-belles-cousines, and tonight more than ever. - Here I am, sorry and full of remorse, as if it were my fault, and I will only be able to appease my conscience with you, some morning or evening, as close as I can get, if you are in the mood to forgive those who are not guilty and love you as I do with a good friendship"... Correspondence, t. V, 45-111.