Donatien-Alphonse-François, Marquis de SADE. L.A., [Vincennes dungeon ca. August-October 1781], to his wife; 4 pages in-8 filled with small, tight handwriting. Letter of jealousy. [Arrested at La Coste on August 26, 1778, Sade has been imprisoned at Vincennes since September 7. He wrote this letter of jealousy to his wife, accusing her of cheating on him with his former secretary Lefèvre]. "Ah! as I have just been proved, that my life was being mocked, as I have just been convinced that I no longer have anyone in the world who is interested in me ah grand dieu grand dieu ne voila que trop verifié laffreux malheur que je redoutois [...You are the instrument of my torment, but how could I imagine making you play a role like that without making you extremely unhappy if you had pity for me, so we had to take away this friendship which was the sole consolation of my life, and we only succeeded by giving you a lover. And that's the odious policy of your mother's execrable advisors, to allow crime, to authorize it to punish an evil, what horror, what infamy, and how is it possible that with all the virtue, all the honesty, all the candor that I know you to have, you didn't feel the trap and resist it. Helas votre execrable mere ma donc tout enlevé, biens, honneur, fortune, liberté, je souffrois tout, je ne serais plainte de rien mais marracher ton coeur, oh, ma chere et divine amie, oh lancienne amie de mon ame, non non je n'y survivrai pas". Sade has pierced the "odious enigma le jour de ma sortie est le 7 fevrier ou 82 ou 84"; he makes a laborious demonstration, noting that February 7 is the feast day of Saint Amand, "et comme dans fevrier on trouve fevre", to conclude "que ma sortie etant au bout de 5 ans (ou 57 mois) le jour de St Amand 7 fevrier, Le Fevre lié au 7 et au 5 etoit votre amant. [...] I don't mind ignoring my exit, never envisioning it if I have to, but I don't want to lose your heart. In a word, I ask to see you with the utmost urgency, my life is at stake [...] do not prove to me that you have taken your pity from me. Jen is worthy, since I weep for my faults that I am repenting and that I desire both freedom and life, only to right all my wrongs, and still (if possible, for it is no longer the case, if you have changed) still make your life happy [...] I still have a precious title near you, that the whole universe could not take away - I am the father of your children; well, let it be in their name that you allow yourself to be torn apart, if I displease you - I will die - I consent, I will free you from me - but let me weep before a moment at your feet, let me kiss your knees once more, hear my decision from your mouth, and I will die content. [...] If I want half my fortune, I'll give it, just to see you for one hour [...] Oh, God, how you make me suffer, and what a search, what darkness in your torments, ah! that's how a soul is embittered and despaired of, but it's not the way to bring it back; in God's name, come and see me for one hour - or I won't answer for my life". Correspondance (Lély), CXXXII.